Treatment of radiolucent renal calculi using ESWL combined with urine alkalinization

During the last 16 months, out of a total of 50 patients with renal urate stones 30 were treated by ESWL alone (Group A) and 20 by ESWL combined with urine alkalinization (Group B) as an adjuvant treatment. The stones were single in 14 cases multiple in 25 and branching in 11 cases. the average long axis of the stones was 3.6 cm. In Group A 76.6% of the patients were stone-free 3 months after ESWL, in comparison with 90% in Group B patients who underwent the combined treatment.