Urinary protein profiles in patients with ureterolithiasis and nephrolithiasis

In ureterolithiasis and nephrolithiasis patients, urinary total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), and IgG levels were significantly higher than those in control subjects, whereas THP was unchanged, Alb/TP ratio was significantly increased, and THP/TP ratio was significantly decreased in ureterolithiasis patients only. All proteins in patients with initial and recurrent ureterolithiasis were unchanged. However, TP and Alb levels in patients with recurrent nephrolithiasis were 10 times higher than those in patients with initial nephrolithiasis; IgG and THP levels were also higher in recurrent diagnosis patients. In patients with initial and recurrent ureterolithiasis, the rate of increase of urinary proteins before and after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatment was 8.9±12.5 and 8.4±1.7 fold. TP level of initial and recurrent nephrolithiasis patients before and after ESWL was 48.8±28.2 and 12.8±9.5 fold rate of increase, respectively. Alb level of initial patients was 58.9±50.4 fold rate of increase and that of recurrent patients was 9.9±8.2 fold. We observed changes in levels and molecular heterogeneity of Alb, THP, and IgG proteins. The Alb, THP, and IgG bands with various molecular sizes in patients were detected when compared to control subjects. This study suggested that the heterogeneity of Alb, THP, and IgG proteins may be involved in stone formation.