DOES UROKINASE PLAY A ROLE IN RENAL STONE FORMATION

Renal stone formation is a complex multifactorial disease, and it is b elieved that the initial step in the pathogenesis of urolithiasis must be the precipitation of an organic matrix of mucoproteins followed by precipitation of minerals onto this matrix. An important factor in th is process may be the activity and/or concentration of the urinary enz yme, urokinase, which would affect the level of urinary mucoproteins s uch as uromucoid. In support of this hypothesis, ELISA studies were co nducted to investigate the urokinase concentrations in urine obtained from males (22-60 years) with and without renal stones. These results showed a significant decrease in urinary urokinase concentration of re nal stone patients which, once again, underlines the possible involvem ent of urokinase in renal stone formation. Therefore, it seems logical to conclude that urokinase may play an integral role in this multifac torial disease.