Blood tests not helpful for screening metabolic disorders in kidney stone disease, Study says

The following results were noted-

2. An elevated serum calcium level was detected in 2.3% of patients.
3. Further investigations prompted by this finding resulted in a diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism in 0.2% of men and 4.6% of women for whom serum calcium was recorded.
4. An elevated serum PTH level in the absence of hypercalcaemia was detected in 15.1% of patients.
5. Of these patients, 74.6% were vitamin D-insufficient; no patients were diagnosed with normocalcaemic hyperparathyroidism.
6. Hyperuricosuria was present in 21.6% of patients and hypercalciuria in 47.1%.
7. Hyperuricaemia was not associated with hyperuricosuria, nor was hypophosphataemia associated with hypercalciuria.
8. No patient was highlighted as being at risk of dRTA using serum chloride and bicarbonate as screening tests.

Therefore, the authors concluded that "individuals presenting with renal calculi should undergo metabolic screening with a serum calcium measurement alone. Use of additional blood tests to screen for metabolic disorders is not cost-effective and may provide false reassurance that metabolic abnormalities are not present."