OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the relationships among the urinary excretion of calcium (UCa), potassium (UK), sodium (UNa) and the ratio between UNa/UK in children with idiopathic hypercalciuria and a regular diet, before and after 1mEq/kg/day potassium citrate administration. METHODS: 26 children with idiopathic hypercalciuria (UCa>4mg/kg/day) were prospectively studied: 19 (73%) boys and seven (27%) girls between two and 13 years old. Potassium citrate was administered: 1mEq/Kg/day twice a day for 15 days. Blood and 24-hour urinary determinations of calcium, potassium, sodium and creatinine were done in two periods: before and after the 15-day administration of potassium citrate. The following urinary ratios were analyzed before and after potassium citrate use by Wilcoxon test: calcium/creatinine (UCa/UCr), potassium/creatinine (UK/UCr) and sodium/creatinine (UNa/UCr). The association between UCa/UCr, UK/UCr and Ca/Cr, UCa/UCr and UNa/UK were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation. Significance was considered for p<0.05. RESULTS: After potassium citrate use, there were significant reductions of UCa and UNa/UK ratios, as well as a significant increase of UK. The UNa did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Children with idiopathic hypercalciuria and regular diet treated with daily potassium citrate increased their potassium urinary excretion and decreased their calciuria.
calcium; child; adolescent; potassium citrate
