Analysis of calcium, iron, copper and zinc contents of nucleus and crust parts of urinary calculi.

In this study we compared the concentrations of calcium, iron, copper and zinc in the nucleus and the crust parts of various kinds of urinary calculi. We found that the mean concentrations of iron, zinc and copper in the nucleus parts of the stones were statistically higher than those in the crust parts. We attempted to explain this finding by two different approaches. Inter- and intra-correlations were also sought between the elements in the nucleus and crust parts. These correlations suggested a complex relationship between the elements of the urinary calculi.