Renal calcium handling in cystic fibrosis: lack of evidence for a primary renal defect.

Because cystic fibrosis (CF) epithelia have ion transport abnormalities that may in part be regulated by intracellular calcium metabolism, and the kidney is actively involved in both ion transport and calcium homeostasis, we have investigated renal calcium handling in CF. Twenty-four-hour urine collections were analyzed in 34 CF patients (age 5 to 35 years) and kidney ultrasound studies were performed in 17 CF patients (age 6 months to 23 years). Renal histologic findings at postmortem examination of 14 CF patients (age 4 months to 23 years) were compared with those of 12 patients (age 11 months to 17 years) with other chronic illnesses (6 congenital heart disease, 6 malignancy). In 30 of the 34 CF patients urinary calcium excretion was normal (less than 4 mg (0.1 mmol)/kg/24 hr). Four CF patients had hypercalciuria (calcium excretion 4.4 to 8.8 mg (0.11 to 0.22 mmol)/kg/24 hr). However, these patients had other possible explanations for hypercalciuria, such as immobilization (n = 2), increased dietary sodium load (n = 1), and glucocorticoid therapy (n = 1). None of the 17 patients examined by renal ultrasonography had nephrocalcinosis. Five CF patients had histologic evidence of sparse nephrocalcinosis at autopsy. However, 6 of 12 autopsy kidney specimens from patients with other chronic illnesses and similar preterminal events also showed nephrocalcinosis. The hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis in CF and other chronic debilitating diseases may be explained by factors known to affect calcium handling. Our evidence does not support a primary renal defect as the basis of hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis in CF.