Effect of Potassium Citrate on Prevention of Recurrence and Expulsion of Residual Fragments of Calcium Oxalate renal Stones

Considering potassium citrate ability to induce urine alkalization, it might be useful in the treatment and prevention of renal stones formation. This study aimed to evaluate the preventative effect of potassium citrate on expulsion of residual fragments and recurrence of calcium oxalate renal stones. The study was conducted on 96 adult patients who were referred to Shahid Faghihi hospital, an affiliate of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, who underwent surgical intervention with detected and cleared calcium oxalate renal stones (more than 60% of stones component). The patients did not have urinary tract infections or urogenital anomalies. Four weeks following the treatment of urolithiasis, patients cleared from the renal stones (n=58) and patients with urinary residual stones (n=38) were divided into two age- and sex-matched groups. Each group was divided into two subgroups. One subgroup received 40 mEq of oral potassium citrate daily for one year while the other was observed. All 4 subgroups were encouraged to high fluid intake with low salt, low oxalate diet. A significant difference in recurrence rate of renal stone was seen in the untreated subgroup (25.86%) compared with the treated subgroup (1.72%) in the stone-cleared group. In the patients with residual urinary fragments, a significant decrease in stone fragments was reported in the treated subgroup (72.22%) in comparison with the untreated subgroup (33.33%). The findings demonstrated that the administration of potassium citrate has a beneficial expulsive effect on residual stone fragments. Also, it causes a significant decline in the recurrence rate of calcium oxalate renal stones.