Effect of thiazolidinedione therapy on the risk of uric acid stones

The most important variable leading to uric acid stones is low urine pH. Major causal conditions associated with low urine pH are metabolic syndrome and diabetes. In the study by Maalouf et  al., treatment of uric acid stone formers with pioglitazone led to small but significant increases in urine pH. Pioglitazone will not supplant alkali administration to prevent uric acid stones, but the study helps confirm that insulin resistance is an important cause of low urine pH that causes ur ic acid stones.
Source: Kidney International - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Commentary Source Type: research