Metabolic abnormalities in nephrolithiasis: clinical management and treatment in a pediatric hospital population

Introduction: Urolithiasis in children is multifactorial and tends to recur. Metabolic abnormalities are important risk factors. Objective: To describe the metabolic abnormalities, clinical management, and treatment of nephrolithiasis in a pediatric population. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study, performed by sampling of consecutive cases. Patients aged 0 to 18 years with a diagnosis of nephrolithiasis from the Pediatric Nephrology Service of the Children's General Pediatric Hospital of Acosta Nu were included during the period from January 2020 to December 2021. Variables: Demographic data, nutritional status, symptoms, presence of risk factors and results of the study of metabolic abnormalities. The data was collected in a Google form and analyzed with SPSSv21, using descriptive statistics. The protocol was approved by the research ethics committee with the release of informed consent. Results: A total of 112 patients were included with a median age of 13 years, 61.6% female, the most frequent symptoms were lumbar and abdominal pain and haematuria. In 54.5% (n=61) metabolic studies were performed. Metabolic abnormalities were detected in 90% (55/61). The most frequent were the combination of hypocitraturia and hypomagnesuria (34.4%). The treatment consisted of individualized dietary measures, according to the abnormalities detected. Conclusions: The frequency of metabolic abnormalities in the patients studied was 90%. The most frequent were the combination of hypocitraturia and hypomagnesuria. The treatment consisted of dietary measures and specific treatment of the abnormalities detected.