Urolithiasis in the area III of Zaragoza: biochemistry and epidemiology

The urolithiasis is a very common disease that it causes, in addition to the suffering for the patients, an important cost sanitary partner. The composition of the renal stones that can influence in the treatment and later evaluation of the disease, varies in the different zones. In our work the composition of the renal stones received in the Biochemistry department of the H.C.U of Zaragoza studies during year 2002, with a brief approach to the epidemiology of the disease in the Area III of Zaragoza. The rate of incidence was of 0.35% with a clear predominance in men; the most frequent renal stones were those of pure calcium oxalate or calcium oxalate combined with apatite carbonate, although the percentage of samples gathered with respect to the total of diagnoses as soon as it surpassed 10%. Not found significant differences between the composition of the renal stones coming from the different zones from our Area, nor based on the sex of the patients. Given the influence of the composition of the urolithiasis for its treatment, we must insist on the collection of the greater number of samples for its analysis, although the epidemiologic data and the study of the urinary sediment can be used in the practice.