An observational study in Urolithiasis, sponsored by Konya City Hospital. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-25.
Sponsored by Konya City Hospital · Observational
This prospective observational case-control study aims to evaluate the presence and burden of microplastic particles in urine samples from patients with kidney and ureteral stones and to compare these findings with healthy controls. The study will also investigate the associations between urinary microplastic burden and clinical characteristics of urinary stone disease, including stone size, stone density measured in Hounsfield units (HU), localization, and stone composition.
Urinary stone disease is a common urological condition with a multifactorial etiology. Although established metabolic, dietary, genetic, and environmental factors contribute to stone formation, the potential role of microplastic exposure in urinary stone disease remains insufficiently understood.
In this prospective observational case-control study, patients diagnosed with kidney or ureteral stones and healthy control participants will be evaluated. Following informed consent, demographic and clinical data will be collected. A midstream urine sample will be obtained from each participant for laboratory analysis.
Urine samples will undergo laboratory processing for the detection and characterization of suspected microplastic particles. The analytical process will include centrifugation, Proteinase K treatment, membrane filtration, microscopic examination, image analysis using ImageJ, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for polymer identification.
In participants with urinary stones, available stone specimens will also be analyzed for stone composition. Imaging-derived stone characteristics, including stone size, localization, and density in Hounsfield units, will be recorded.
The primary objective is to compare urinary microplastic burden between participants with urinary stones and healthy controls. Secondary analyses will investigate the relationships between urinary microplastic burden and stone characteristics, including stone size, density, localization, and composition.
The study does not involve administration of investigational drugs, use of investigational medical devices, or additional invasive procedures. Participation will involve collection of a urine sample and collection of clinical data obtained during routine clinical care.
253 studies on the registry are indexed under Urolithiasis; 67 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 100 is below the median of 150 across 65 observational studies indexed under Urolithiasis.
Browse Urolithiasis studies →Konya City Hospital is the lead sponsor of 81 studies on the registry; 23 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
The study population will consist of adult participants with kidney or ureteral stones and healthy control participants. Participants in the urinary stone group will have a diagnosis of kidney or ureteral stone disease. Healthy controls will have no current or previous diagnosis of urinary stone disease. Participants will be recruited prospectively from the study center and will provide informed consent before enrollment. Midstream urine samples will be collected from all participants for microplastic detection and characterization. Clinical and demographic data will be recorded for the urinary stone group, including stone size, localization, and stone density measured in Hounsfield units.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants diagnosed with kidney or ureteral stones will be included in this group. Demographic and clinical data, including age, sex, body mass index, stone size, stone localization, and stone density measured in Hounsfield units, will be recorded. Midstream urine samples will be collected for microplastic detection and characterization. When available, stone specimens obtained during routine clinical treatment will be analyzed for stone composition.
Other: No Intervention
Participants without current or previous urinary stone disease will be included in this group. Demographic and relevant clinical data will be recorded. Midstream urine samples will be collected and analyzed using the same laboratory procedures as those applied to the urinary stone group for detection and characterization of microplastic particles.
Other: No Intervention
This is an observational study. No study-specific intervention will be assigned to participants.
Urinary Microplastic Burden
Urinary microplastic burden will be assessed as the number of confirmed microplastic particles detected per milliliter of urine (particles/mL). Microplastic particles will be identified by microscopic examination and confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy based on polymer characteristics. The urinary microplastic burden will be compared between the urinary stone group and the healthy control group.
Time frame: At enrollment
Microplastic Polymer Type
The polymer types of confirmed microplastic particles detected in urine samples will be identified by FTIR spectroscopy and reported according to polymer type, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, and other identified polymers.
Time frame: At enrollment
Association Between Urinary Microplastic Burden and Stone Size
The association between urinary microplastic burden and maximum urinary stone diameter will be evaluated in participants with kidney or ureteral stones.
Time frame: At enrollment
Association Between Urinary Microplastic Burden and Stone Density
The association between urinary microplastic burden and urinary stone density measured in Hounsfield units (HU) on computed tomography will be evaluated in participants with kidney or ureteral stones.
Time frame: At enrollment
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: No
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Konya City Hospital