Saturday, September 30 2006 13:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New York: Urinary stone disease, one of the most painful of the urologic disorders, could be treated without surgery with the help of a calcium-channel blocker or an alpha blocker, say scientists.

While many urinary stones are treated with minimally invasive techniques, there is growing evidence to suggest that medication can be an effective treatment, reported the science portal EurekAlert.

Calcium-channel blockers and alpha-blockers are used commonly for management of high blood pressure and enlarged prostates.

John M. Hollingsworth and colleagues, at the Department of Urology at the University of Michigan School, analysed nine trials that included 693 patients.

They examined the use of calcium-channel blockers or alpha-blockers to assist with the passage of urinary stones. In all, they found that patients treated with one of the medications had a 65 percent greater chance of passing the stones spontaneously than patients not given these drugs.

The study published in the latest issue of the Lancet suggests that treatment with these medications is an important first step for patients with an acute urinary stone episode.

"Surgery is still a necessary treatment for many patients with urinary stones," said Brent K. Hollenbeck, one of the researchers.

"However, for many people, a more conservative approach beginning with a trial of a calcium-channel blocker or an alpha blocker is proving to be efficacious," he said.