ISSN:
1434-0879
Keywords:
Calcium oxalate
;
Dialysis
;
Urinary macromolecules
;
Crystal growth inhibition
;
Mean crystal volume
;
Stone formers
;
Normal subjects
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The macromolecular fraction of urine with a molecular weight above 3,000 was isolated by dialysis. In the dialysed urine the rate of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystallization was reduced both in the presence and absence of CaOx seed crystals. There was a clear relationship between crystallization and the relative concentration of the dialysed urine, with the highest crystallization propensity at the lowest concentration of macromolecules. Dilution of dialysed urine also affected crystal size distribution, with a predominance of small (2.8–4.5 μm) crystals in 100% dialysed urine and of large (5.6–14.0 μm) crystals in 5% dialysed urine. This is consistent with a macromolecular inhibition of both crystal growth and aggregation. Analysis of the crystal size distribution 120 min after supersaturation of whole urine to a level at which approximately 100 crystals in the size interval 3.5–5 μm were detected in a Coulter counter surprisingly disclosed a higher mean crystal volume in urine samples from normal subjects than from stone formers. This gives support to the assumptions that macromolecules might be of importance during the initial phase of CaOx crystallization and that urine from stone formers and normal subjects might be different in this respect.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00297369
Permalink
