Phosphate metabolism in renal stone formers. (I): Indices of phosphate handling in calcium stone patients and healthy subjects.

Healthy subjects (n = 112) and patients with recurrent idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis (n = 44) were evaluated regarding various indices of phosphate handling: serum phosphate concentration, renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate, index of phosphate excretion and renal threshold concentration for phosphate (TmP/GFR). The 24 hour and fasting 2 hour urinary phosphate excretions were similar in the two groups and the index of phosphate excretion was higher in stone formers, but for all the other variables lower mean values were found in the group of stone formers than in the group of normal subjects. The renal tubular capacity for reabsorption of phosphate (as evaluated by the different indices) appeared to decrease with advancing age concomitant with a reduction of the serum phosphate concentration. When age- and sex-matched subjects from the two groups were compared with regard to the phosphate variables lower values were still found in the group of stone forming subjects. This study gives support to earlier observations that renal stone formers tend to waste phosphate by and altered renal handling.