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Speciation and supersaturation of urine

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Abstract

Thermodynamic equilibria in urine at 37 °C showed that the inorganic urinary constituents, citrate and oxalate are present as 76 different species. Complexes formed by uric acid and various organic compounds, such as creatinine, proteins, hormones and metabolites, for which the relevant thermodynamic data are not available in the library of the computer program MINTEQA2 Version 3 were not considered. The actual thermodynamic supersaturation of urine with respect to calcium oxalate monohydrate and dihydrate was calculated. The effects of varying composition of urine at the same pH and the violation of the condition of electroneutrality on the calculated supersaturation were shown. The supersaturation of urine should never be computed from incomplete data of urine composition. Incomplete urine composition should always be supplemented with data for the other urinary components. Guidelines for extension of urine composition were suggested. A requisite condition for formation of solid calcium oxalate in urine is the presence of active heterogeneous nuclei. Supersaturation of urine with respect to calcium oxalates per se cannot be regarded as a diagnostic measure of the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation.

Graphical abstract

COM formation through heterogenous nucleation on hydroxyapatite

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of J.E. Purkyně, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic

    Otakar Söhnel & Tomáš Loučka

  2. Laboratory of Renal Lithiasis Research, University Institute of Health Sciences Research (IUNICS-IDISBA), University of Balearic Islands, Palma, Mallorca, Spain

    Felix Grases

Authors
  1. Otakar Söhnel
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  2. Tomáš Loučka
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  3. Felix Grases
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Correspondence to Felix Grases.

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Söhnel, O., Loučka, T. & Grases, F. Speciation and supersaturation of urine. Monatsh Chem 149, 333–339 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00706-017-2115-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00706-017-2115-5

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