Idiopathic hypercalciuria in children study of an infantile population of The Canary Islands Spain

Abstract

The urinary calcium excretion in 128 asymptomatic children from the Canary Island (Spain) was studied. The prevalence of hypercalciuria (considering the quotient calcium/creatinine in urine > 0.18) was 4.6% (6 cases). Studying their pathophysiological background it was found out that in one case could exist a "resorptive" hypercalciuria, whereas the remaining five cases showed a pattern of "absorptive" hypercalciuria. The mechanisms of idiopathic hypercalciuria are reviewed, stressing the possible role of an excessive calcium intake, as well as the high levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D that seem to be dependent on climatological and dietetic factors of our environment.