X-ray microdiffraction and urine: a new analysis method of crystalluria

J Xray Sci Technol. 2012;20(4):489-98. doi: 10.3233/XST-2012-00355.

Abstract

The qualitative and quantitative analyses of crystalluria have clinical significance in the diagnosis and prognosis of urolithiasis. The aim of this paper is to provide a new accurate methodology to get qualitative and quantitative data on urine particulate in patients with renal stone disease.The procedure involves a urine collection, the separation of the solid residual by centrifugation, and its analysis by X-ray diffraction, utilizing a micro-diffractometer in order to analyze very low amounts of residual. The spectrum obtained was converted into 2 θ -I profiles and quantitatively refined by Rietveld method. The proposed methodology has the advantage to accurately quantify all crystalline phases and the amorphous component of the urine; anyway urine samples have to be centrifuged and analysed as soon as possible, because the quantitative results obtained by the X-ray microdiffraction showed that after some days and at room temperature urine increased significantly both amorphous and crystalline phases.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Calcium Oxalate / chemistry
  • Calcium Oxalate / urine*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnesium Compounds / chemistry
  • Magnesium Compounds / urine*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phosphates / chemistry
  • Phosphates / urine*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Struvite
  • Temperature
  • Time Factors
  • Uric Acid / chemistry
  • Uric Acid / urine*
  • Urolithiasis / urine
  • X-Ray Diffraction / methods*

Substances

  • Magnesium Compounds
  • Phosphates
  • Calcium Oxalate
  • Uric Acid
  • weddellite
  • Struvite