Comparison of Serum Fetuin A Levels and Biochemical Parameters In Patients With and Without Calcium Oxalate Stones: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Renal stone formation is a multi step process. Identifying molecules and metabolic alterations that affect this process may provide an opportunity to intervene for preventing stone formation. Fetuin A is the one that is least explored. Objective of the study was to compare serum fetuin A levels and other relevant biochemical parameters in patients with and without urinary oxalate stones.

Methodology: The cross-sectional study recruited fifty each subjects with and without urinary oxalate stones as cases and control respectively. Their serum samples were used to assay serum fetuin A by ELISA and other biochemical parameters by semi-autoanalyzer. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 23.

Results: Serum fetuin A was insignificantly lowered(p=0. 43), uric acid significantly lower I cases than controls (p=0. 012) and creatinine were significantly higher and (p=0. 046) in cases. eGFR was reduced significantly (p<0. 0001) in cases suggesting a renoprotective role of fetuin A. Significant positive correlation was observed between fetuin A and calcium levels.

Conclusion: Lowered Fetuin A levels in patients with renal stone disease suggest a protective role of fetuin A. Small sample size is the limitation of the study. However it may be considered as a pilot study and further investigations may be carried out to further explore the role of fetuin A in kidney stone disease.