Effect of Rowatinex on calculus clearance after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

INTRODUCTION

our aim was to evaluate the effect of Rowatinex, an essential oil preparation of terpenic type, on kidney calculi clearance after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was performed at Hormozgan Hospital in Bandar Abbas, Iran, on 100 patients with 10-mm to 20-mm kidney calculi. They underwent SWL, and then, they were randomly assigned into 2 groups to receive either Rowatinex, 100 mg, 3 times per day, or placebo after SWL. Patients were followed up with plain abdominal radiography, ultrasonography, and excretory urography (if required), 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively.

RESULTS

Two weeks following SWL, 6 (12%) and 9 (18%) patients in the Rowatinex and control groups had fragmented calculi without clearance, 26 (52%) and 24 (48%) had less than 50% clearance, 9 (18%) and 15 (30%) had more than 50% but not total clearance, and 9 (18%) and 2 (4%) patients were stone free, respectively. Rowatinex had a significant effect on the stone-free rate (P = .02). Four weeks post-SWL, 3 (7.3%) and 7 (14.6%) other patients in the Rowatinex and control groups became stone free, respectively. Overall, Rowatinex had no significant effect on the stone-free rate (P = .46). No complications or differences between the two groups in symptoms and signs were reported.

CONCLUSION

Rowatinex does not have a significant effect on clearance rate of kidney calculi after SWL. However, it can accelerate calculus passage after 2 weeks, and it does not have any significant adverse effects.