Shock wave lithotripsy for renal stones is not associated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus - Reply

Objectives: To clarify the influences of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) treatments for renal and ureteropelvic junction stones on new onsets of hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: We compared the new onsets of hypertension and DM after SWL in renal and ureteral stone groups. The renal stone group consisted of 772 patients treated with SWL, who had a possibility of renal and pancreatic shock wave damage. The ureteral stone group consisted of 505 patients treated with SWL, who were unlikely to have suffered SWL damage in the kidney and pancreas areas. Both treatment groups received SWL between 1984 and 1994. Results: The rates of new onset of hypertension in the renal stone and ureteral stone groups were 22.8% and 20.0% in men and 23.1% and 20.5% in women, respectively. The rates of new onset of DM in the renal stone and ureteral stone groups were 7.4% and 11.0% in men and 8.7% and 8.7% in women, respectively. There was no significant difference in the new onsets of hypertension and DM between renal and ureteral stone groups depending on each age decade or sex. Treatment for renal stone was not a significant risk factor for new onsets of hypertension and DM by logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that SWL treatment for renal and UPJ stones might not be associated with new onset of hypertension or DM. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.