The Stone Clinic Effect in Patients with Idiopathic Calcium Urolithiasis

Abstract

Frequently, following initial assessment in a stone clinic, patients with idiopathic calcium urolithiasis do not demonstrate stone growth or new stone formation (metabolic activity)1 during follow-up, although no specific drug therapy has been instituted. The only management which these patients have received consists of advice to increase their fluid intake and, when appropriate, to eliminate excessive intake of dairy products, protein, purines, oxalate, salt, and refined sugars2−4 The effect of these fluid and dietary recommendations alone may be referred to as the "stone clinic effect". The purpose of our study was to evaluate the extent of the "stone clinic effect" and to determine whether or not the metabolic activity of stone disease during follow-up was related to fluid intake.