Chemical Analysis of Urinary Calculi (Kidney Stones) Obtained from Patients Admitted at Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos-Nigeria

Abstract

The chemical make-up of urinary calculi of six (6) patients admitted at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos-Nigeria, have been studied using both qualitative and quantitative procedures. The samples were found to contain calcium,magnesium, ammonia, oxalates, potassium, sodium, carbonates, phosphates and uric acid. The analytical results indicate that most of the samples contain the following range of values for the various parameters determined; Ca (3.08-4.44) mg/100g, Mg (0.18=0.38)mg/100g. Na (0.11-0.34mg/100g). K(0.10-035mg/100g), NH3 (0.04-0.76)mg/100g. PO4 (15.20-29.69)mg/100mg, CO3 (200-900)mg/100mg, C2O4 (200-900)mg/100g and uric acid (0.96-2.88)mg/100g. However, two of the samples presented abnormally high values for some parameters, which have been identified as infection - based (struvite) calculi. It is also evident from the results that most of the stones are mixed (binary and ternary), a manifestation of more than one underlying metabolic disorder in the patients possessing the samples. From the results of the investigation and other presentations by the patients, it can be inferred that the most common metabolic abnormalities in the population within the study area emanated from infection and nutrition.