The characteristics of urolithiasis in east Thrace: a statistical review.

During a 6-year period 390 patients with urinary tract calculus were studied: 293 had upper and 38 had lower urinary tract calculi. Of these, 59 passed their stones spontaneously on conservative therapy, 294 were treated surgically and 37 stones were removed by endoscopic means. Of the patients 10.54% had a history of urolithiasis, 5.34% reported family history. In contrast to the common belief, the highest admission rate was in winter. The male to female ratio was found to be 2.2:1, whereas it was equal (1:1) in childhood. The peak incidence was between the ages 30 and 39. Urinary tract infection and obstruction of varying severity were the common coexisting abnormalities. Calcium was the main component of both the upper and lower tract stones. Calcium oxalate+phosphate and calcium oxalate+struvite were the most common mixed stones. Blood typing did not reveal any specificity for urinary calculous disease. On the other hand, occupational groups leading a sedentary life were more prone to this malady.