[The role of physicochemistry in urology and nephrology, selected results obtained during the last ten years].

INTRODUCTION: The presence of pathological calcifications, which can be either concretions or ectopic call for physicochemical characterisation techniques in order to define a significant diagnosis. The aim of this review is to present a set of characterisation techniques able to describe at the micrometer scale their structural and chemical characteristics and show their place at the hospital.

METHOD: Results already published in the last ten years based on characterisation techniques present in laboratories or specific to large-scale instruments are presented. Their usefulness for the clinician is discussed.

RESULTS: The presence and role of heavy metals in urinary stones through data collected through μX-ray fluorescence is debated. If these data suggest a simple substitution process of calcium, recent data suggest that weddellite is associated to a Zn-rich environment, partly favoured by an inflammation process. Investigation on the chemistry and the structure of unusual deposits in kidney biopsies show a great chemical diversity of ectopic calcifications. Such diversity shows that staining procedures to characterize such deposits are obsolete. Finally, several diseases which can be assessed through techniques specific to large-scale instruments and defined by the clinician are presented.

CONCLUSION: The chemical and structural complexity of pathological calcifications call for a characterization through physicochemical techniques. Only such approach allows the clinician to define a significant diagnosis and to care the patient.