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Microelements in Stones, Urine, and Hair of Stone Formers: A New Key to the Puzzle of Lithogenesis?

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Abstract

The role of trace elements in lithogenesis is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of elements in urinary stones and in the urine and hair of stone formers to identify these elements that have synergic correlations in studied materials and may contribute to lithogenesis. A total of 219 consecutive patients with idiopathic upper urinary tract stones were prospectively enrolled in the study. Urine and hair samples were collected from all patients. The content of the stone was evaluated using atomic absorption spectrometry, spectrophotometry, and colorimetric methods. The analysis of 29 elements in stones and hair and 21 elements in urine was performed using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The strength of correlation was described with the value of Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. The positive correlation between concentration of sodium, potassium, magnesium, barium, vanadium, zinc, silicon, phosphorus, and iodine in phosphate stones was observed. Only a few incidental correlations between the composition of stones and the distribution of elements in urine and in hair were found. There were 109 positive two-element correlations between two materials. The most common were observed for vanadium, aluminum, lead, cobalt, and molybdenum. Two-element positive correlations for all samples were established only for three elements: vanadium, lead, and aluminum. Results indicate that analysis of particular elements in hair and urine cannot predict the composition of urinary stones. This study showed, for the first time, correlations between the levels of vanadium, lead, and aluminum in the stones, urine, and hair of stone formers.

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Acknowledgments

This study has been granted from 2007–2010 scientific funds for research projects of Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (NN403/1098/33).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstancow Wlkp. 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland

    Marcin Słojewski, Adam Gołąb & Andrzej Sikorski

  2. Laboratory of Drug Toxicology and Pharmacoeconomy, Pomeranian Medical University, Zolnierska 48, 71-210, Szczecin, Poland

    Bogusław Czerny

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstancow Wlkp. 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland

    Krzysztof Safranow, Katarzyna Jakubowska, Maria Olszewska & Dariusz Chlubek

  4. Department of Pharmacokinetics and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstancow Wlkp. 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland

    Andrzej Pawlik & Marek Droździk

Authors
  1. Marcin Słojewski
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  2. Bogusław Czerny
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  3. Krzysztof Safranow
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  4. Katarzyna Jakubowska
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  5. Maria Olszewska
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  6. Andrzej Pawlik
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  7. Adam Gołąb
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  8. Marek Droździk
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  9. Dariusz Chlubek
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  10. Andrzej Sikorski
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Correspondence to Marcin Słojewski.

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Słojewski, M., Czerny, B., Safranow, K. et al. Microelements in Stones, Urine, and Hair of Stone Formers: A New Key to the Puzzle of Lithogenesis?. Biol Trace Elem Res 137, 301–316 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8584-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8584-6

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