Do thiazides prevent recurrent idiopathic renal calcium oxalate stones?

In a double-blind controlled clinical trial 62 patients with recurrent idiopathic renal calcium oxalate stone formation were allocated either to treatment with bendroflumethiazide, 2.5 mg three times a day, or placebo. In each group the rate of stone formation during medication (average follow-up period 36 months) was compared with the rate of stone formation before medication (average control period 36 months). In both groups a similar striking fall in the rate of stone formation was found, indicating that thiazides in this study did not alter the spontaneous course of idiopathic renal calcium oxalate stone formation. It is doubtful whether life-long prophylaxis with thiazide is justified in patients with a moderate rate of stone formation.

Effect of thiazides on the urinary calcium oxalate stone-forming potential in normal males.

We studied the effect of bendroflumethiazide on a risk factor index, COSP, reflecting the stone-forming potential of urinary calcium oxalate. This index includes the concentrations of three stone promotors: calcium, oxalate, and uric acid in its numerator, and two stone inhibitors: magnesium and citrate, in its denominator. These risk factors were measured in 4-hour and 24-hour urinary specimens obtained under fixed conditions of food and fluid intake. Eight normal males were studied before and after two and four weeks of continued thiazide treatment. Thiazide 2.5 mg b.i.d. was given for two weeks, followed by 2.5 mg t.i.d. for another two weeks. Before treatment COSP exhibited a pronounced diurnal variation with peaks between 8 a.m. and noon, and 8 p.m. and midnight. After four weeks of thiazide treatment suppression of two stone promotors, calcium (p less than 0.01) and uric acid (p less than 0.02), and reduced COSP by 36 to 95% in each subject (median: -71%, p less than 0.01). Moreover, thiazide abolished the diurnal variation of COSP. After the initial two weeks of thiazide 2.5 mg b.i.d., almost identical effects were observed. Nearly all the changes in COSP were explained by the effects on urinary calcium. This marked suppression of COSP supports the theory that thiazides may be useful in the prevention of renal calcium oxalate stone formation.