Concentration effect of trace metals in Jordanian patients of urinary calculi

Due to the increase in the number of urinary calculi disease cases in Jordan, stone samples were collected from patients from various Jordanian hospitals (Princes Basma (PBH), King Abdullah University (KAUH), Al-Basheer (ABH) and Al-Mafraq (AMH)). This study concentrates on the effect of trace metals in patients of urinary calculi. Trace metals were detected in 110 urinary calculi samples using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) techniques. Of the calculi examined, 21 were pure calcium oxalate (CaOax), 29 were mixed calcium oxalate/uric acid, 23 were mixed calcium oxalate/phosphate (apatite), 25 were phosphate calculi (apatite/struvite), five were mixed calcium oxalate monohydrate/struvite, four were urate calculi (mixed ammonium acid urate/sodium acid urate) and three were pure cystine calculi. The concentration measurement of Ca and other trace metals levels has been found useful in understanding the mechanism of stone formation and in evaluating pathological factors. It has been found that Ca is the main constituent of the urinary calculi, especially those stones composed of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. The concentration of most of the trace metals that were analyzed was (Ca = 48.18, Na = 1.56, K = 0.9, Mg = 3.08, Fe = 1.17, Al = 0.49, Zn = 0.7, Cu = 0.19, Mn = 0.029, P = 10.35, S = 1.88, Sr = 0.306, Mo = 0.2, Cr = 0.146, Co = 0.05, Ni = 0.014)%. In conclusion, metals concentration in Jordanian patient's urinary calculi samples was higher than its equivalents of other patients'. It has been noted that there is no concentration of toxic trace elements (like Li, V, Pb, Cd, and As). Some heavy metals, however, were detected Mo, Cr, Co and Ni as traces. P and S ions are present in few calculi stones as traces.