These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Uric acid as inducer of calcium oxalate crystal development.
    Author: Grases F, Sanchis P, Isern B, Perelló J, Costa-Bauzá A.
    Journal: Scand J Urol Nephrol; 2007; 41(1):26-31. PubMed ID: 17366099.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: This paper deals with the mechanism by which uric acid affects calcium oxalate crystallization and the role of crystallization inhibitors in this process. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pure uric acid crystals and fragments of uric acid renal calculi were used to induce calcium oxalate crystal formation and development. These studies were performed in flow systems, using synthetic urine and similar conditions to those found in real renal situations. The type and size of the developed crystals were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and the amount of calcium oxalate crystallized was quantitated by means of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. RESULTS: The presence of uric acid crystals in a flow system provoked calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystallization at a rate of 3.3 microg/h/mg uric acid. When uric acid renal calculi fragments were used, the amount of COM crystallized varied between 0.048 and 0.161 microg/h/mg of renal calculi depending on the porosity of the calculus. At particular concentrations (3.03 microM phytate, 28.75 microM pyrophosphate, 40 mg/l chondroitin sulphate) the crystallization inhibitors assayed produced a maximum decrease of approximately 50% in the amount of COM crystallized on uric acid crystals. Mucin (a glycoprotein) caused only slight effects. CONCLUSION: Uric acid crystals can clearly induce the development of COM crystals on them through a heterogeneous nucleation process and some crystallization inhibitors can notably delay such a process.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]