Renal tubular acidosis. A new look at treatment of musculoskeletal and renal disease.

The clinical and laboratory manifestations, roentgenographic findings, and treatment of 48 patients with renal tubular acidosis who were examined at the Mayo Clinic during a 10-year period were reviewed. The initial clinical presentations of the 48 patients in the series included rheumatic complaints in 25 and recurrent nephrolithiasis in 23. Of the 23 patients who presented with nephrolithiasis, 8 also had musculoskeletal symptoms. Thirty-three of the 48 patients had careful follow-up of a total of 68 musculoskeletal complaints. Forty of these symptoms (59%) diminished after treatment of the renal tubular acidosis with orally administered alkali. Associated connective tissue diseases were present in 12 patients. Thirty-four patients had roentgenographic evidence of renal calculi. Of this group, 19 were followed up with sequential roentgenographic studies of the kidneys for more than 1 year during therapy. Of 15 patients treated orally with alkali, 13 had metabolically inactive renal stone disease. Three of the patients treated orally with phosphorus supplements had persistent metabolically active renal stone disease. Patients with renal tubular acidosis often present with musculoskeletal manifestations and renal lithiasis, both of which frequently subside with the treatment of the renal tubular acidosis.