ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The likelihood of spontaneous urinary stone passage can be increased significantly by treatment with calcium channel blockers or ? blockers, according to pooled data on nearly 700 patients with urinary calculi.
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 2 -- The likelihood of spontaneous urinary stone passage can be increased significantly by treatment with calcium channel blockers or ? blockers, according to pooled data on nearly 700 patients with urinary calculi.
A nine-trial meta-analysis found that patients treated with calcium channel blockers or ? blockers were 65% more likely to spontaneously pass the stones (95% confidence interval 1.45-1.88 P
In seven of the nine studies, both treatment and control groups received on-demand nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for relief of acute renal colic. In three, trials corticosteroids were given along with the calcium channel blocker nifedipine.
The mean age of patients ranged from 34.4 to 46.5 years and number of women in the trials ranged from 25% to 60%. The mean stone size ranged from 3.9 mm to 7.8 mm.
Treatment duration ranged from seven days to six weeks and follow-up ranged from 15 days to 48 days.
Among the findings: