Scientists from the University of Alberta have found that thiazide diuretic drugs may not be helpful in preventing kidney stones in all patients. Research published New England Journal of Medicine.
Research several decades ago showed that thiazide diuretics can prevent recurrences in people with calcium-containing kidney stones.
The new study included 416 patients who were given either a placebo or the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide. The recurrence rate of kidney stones at three years was the same in both groups: approximately 50%.
Scientists noted that generally thiazide diuretics are not given to everyone with kidney stones, but only to patients with calcium stones and high calcium levels in the urine. Thiazide diuretics are believed to reduce the risk of kidney stones because they reduce urinary calcium excretion.
The study also included patients with different calcium levels. The results indicate that the efficacy of thiazide diuretics may depend on the composition of kidney stones.
Given this and the small number of participants, doctors believe it is not necessary for doctors to change clinical recommendations for now, but rather for patients to discontinue their thiazide diuretics. However, more research is needed to confirm their efficacy and identify the groups that would benefit most from these drugs.