Outcome of children with melamine-induced urolithiasis: results of a two-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose is to describe the characteristics and the outcome of melamine-induced renal and urinary tract injury in young children who consumed melamine-contaminated infant formula.

METHODS

This is a descriptive longitudinal study over 2 years in 240 children with melamine-induced urolithiasis screened in our hospital from September 15 to October 31, 2008. Ultrasonography and serum creatinine (SCr), urea, β2-microglobulin (MG), cystatin C (Cys C), urinary Cr (UCr), microalbumin (mALB), α1-MG, β2-MG, n-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) measurements were performed.

RESULTS

The children ranged in age from 1 to 82 months, and 145 were males. The largest calculus was 33 mm in diameter. X-ray diffraction pattern of the calculi displayed two diffraction peaks at 10.9° and 27.7° (2θ). Surgical management was performed in 14 patients. In 226 patients without surgical management, the calculi were passed in 59.63% patients within 1 month, in 85.40% within 6 and in 91.15% within 24 months. Increased SCr and urea levels were noted in three and six patients, respectively, at the time of diagnosis. The SCr, serum β2-MG, and Cys C levels at the time of diagnosis were higher than those at 3 and 6 months after diagnosis (P < 0.05, respectively). The levels of mALB/UCr, NAG/UCr, and RBP/UCr at the time of diagnosis were higher than those at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after diagnosis (P < 0.05, respectively). α1-MG/UCr and β2-MG/UCr levels at the time of diagnosis were similar to those at 3 months after diagnosis, and significantly higher than those in the follow-up period (P < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Melamine might injure both the renal glomerulus and the tubule, and that the predominant lesion is urolithiasis. The compositions of melamine-induced urolithiasis are melamine and cyanuric acid crystals. The urolithiasis might persist for over 2 years and cause irreversible damage. Therefore, a long-term follow-up for all patients is required.