Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:As urolithiasis patients are at a constant inflammatory insult caused by the calculi, the levels of inflammatory markers can be used to monitor the success of treatment. Vitamin D and anti-inflammatory agents may be used in the management of nephrolithiasis patients.
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Introduction:Hypercalciuria plays an important role in the pathogenesis of renal calculi. The role of vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), inflammatory markers highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the development of renal calculi has not well defined. Objectives: To assess the serum levels of vitamin D, PTH, hs-CRP and IL-6, urinary and serum calcium and phosphorus levels in patients with renal calculi and to compare these parameters with healthy controls Patients and methods: It was a cross-sectional study. About 41 confirmed renal calculi patients and 41 age and sex matched controls were recruited. Patients with malignancies, hyperparathyroidism, chronic disease, and patients taking vitamin D supplementations were excluded. Serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D, i-PTH, hs-CRP, IL-6, calcium and phosphorous, 24 hours urine levels of calcium and phosphorus were estimated Results: There was a statistical significant difference in the serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D (12.26 vs 19.61 ng/mL), i-PTH (75.5 vs. 33.5 pg/mL), hsCRP (5117.05 vs. 1721.87 ng/mL), IL-6 (13.49 vs. 1.47 pg/mL) calcium (11.5 vs. 9.4 mg/dL) and urinary calcium (370.5 vs. 342 mg/d) and phosphorous levels (1172 vs. 1432 mg/d) between the cases and the control. There was negative correlation between the levels of i-PTH and vitamin D (r = -0.765) and positive correlation between i-PTH and hsCRP, IL-6, Serum calcium and urine calcium (r = 0.353, 0.340, 0.522, 0.501 respectively) Conclusion: There was vitamin D inadequacy and increased levels of PTH, IL-6 and C-reactive protein, calcium in patients with renal calculi when compared with healthy controls.