Stone screening and follow-up are necessary?

In a series of 120 patients with renal stones 60% were found to have a treatable metabolic abnormality. Idiopathic hypercalciuria and the incomplete form of renal tubular acidosis were the two most common abnormalities. Both conditions in the untreated form were associated with an unacceptably high stone recurrence rate and incidence of change. In view of this, follow-up is considered essential and if medical treatment is to be offered this should be in the form of a controlled clinical trial.