To identify the latest progression on medical treatment of urinary stones.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be the preferred analgesic option for patients presenting to the emergency department with renal colic. A-blockers could be of patient benefit when used for distal ureteral stones more than 5 mm in size. However, the quality of the randomized controlled studies on medical expulsive therapy (MET) is still low based on the Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT) criteria. MET should be used with caution in children and pregnant women. In patients with renal stones, the evaluation of the comorbidities of developing chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is mandatory. It is highly recommended to follow the European Association of Urology Urolithiasis Guidelines Panel Diagnostic and Therapeutic algorithms to prevent stone recurrence.
Medical treatment of urinary stone disease should be supported by well designed higher level of evidence clinical research.
Current opinion in urology. 2018 Sep [Epub]
Andreas Skolarikos
Associate Professor of Urology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.