Description
Hyperoxaluria is now a well-recognised risk factor for
calcium oxalate urolithiasis and should be sought in all patients
presenting with this common problem. Further biochemical investigations,
coupled with a full clinical and dietary assessment, may be
required to define the source of the excess oxalate in individual
patients. Pre-analytical sources of error can be significant
but the assay of urinary oxalate is now a routine and reliable
procedure. In contrast, definitive diagnosis of the inherited
hyperoxalurias must be based on appropriate tissue enzyme
analyses.
