Idiopathic hypercalciuria associated with urinary tract infection in children

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between idiopathic hypercalciuria (IH) and urinary tract infection (UTI) in children. This prospective clinical study included 75 patients with UTI (without urinary tract malformations and lithiasis) and a control group of 30 healthy children. Of the total number of patients with UTI, 21% (n = 16/75) had IH, but only 7% (n = 2/30) with IH were reported in the control group (p < 0.05). Recurrent UTI affected 33% (n = 25/75) of patients , and in 67% (n = 50/75) of patients, UTI was diagnosed for the first time. In the group of patients with recurrent UTI, 44% (n = 11/25) had IH, but only 10% (n = 5/50) were reported in the group of patients with first-time UTI (p < 0.05). The results of multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that clinical and laboratory parameters (recurrent UTI, dysuria, and microscopic hematuria) may predict the diagnosis of IH in 80% of patients and absence of IH in 87% of cases. In our opinion, IH is a major contributing factor to UTI, especially to recurrent UTI in children.