U. Ferreira et al., FUNCTIONAL AND HISTOLOGIC ALTERATIONS IN GROWING SOLITARY RAT-KIDNEY AS RESULT OF EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCKWAVES, Journal of endourology, 9(1), 1995, pp. 45-49
The long-term effects of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) on
children treated for renal calculi are unclear. To study the effects
on the immature animal, we evaluated 31 Wistar white rats that underwe
nt right nephrectomy at 30 days of age. At 40 days of age they were di
vided into three groups: a control group of 10 rats that received no s
hockwaves; Group I (9 rats) that received 1000 shockwaves at 16.0 kV,
and Group II (12 animals) that received 1000 shock waves at 17.2 kV. S
ix months later at maturity (7 months and 10 days of age), the followi
ng parameters were measured: (1) body and renal weight; (2) blood lith
ium, sodium, potassium, and creatinine; (3) fractional lithium, sodium
, and potassium excretion; and (4) clearances of lithium and creatinin
e. The kidneys were studied grossly and histologically. We found no si
gnificant changes in overall animal and renal growth between the post-
SWL and control groups. However, there were significant changes in ren
al function. The animals in Groups I and II presented significant incr
eases in blood potassium compared with the control group. Furthermore,
the 1000 x 17.2 kV group showed permanent histologic renal changes, i
ncluding red cells in Bowman's capsule and glomerular congestion. The
disorders caused by SWL are compatible with hyporeninemic hypoaldoster
onism, inappropriately low plasma renin activity, and aldosterone defi
ciency. We conclude that although SWL does not affect either overall o
r renal growth, it may cause significant changes in renal function and
permanent histologic damage.