DMSO in Renal Calculus Treatment in Symptomatic Patients – Summary of a Retrospective Observational Study


Efrain Olszewer, MD

DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) is an organic solvent, approved by the FDA for the treatment of interstitial cystitis and used as well for other indications that have never been fully defined due to lack of studies because it is a public domain drug. Most of the work done is from the last century.1,2

There are many references for the use of DMSO, including books published by Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences and others that discuss its biological actions and uses.3-5

One of the mechanisms of action related to DMSO biochemistry is the relaxation of endothelial tissue.6 Based on this principle, six patients with pain in the renal fossa or anterior abdominal region following the ureteral pathway, and with previous history of renal calculus and surgery for calculus extraction (5 calcium previously identified and 1 of uric acid by patient report), agreed to DMSO treatment.4  Ultrasound confirmed renal calculus in five of the six patients.

All patients, who were habitual patients of the clinic, were adequately informed and knew that treatment was a therapeutic possibility, experimental, but excellently well tolerated, except for the smell that the body exudes for one or two days, usually without presenting side effects other than the smell.

The six patients were administered 250 ml of saline solution, with 10 ml of apyrogenic DMSO at 99%, once a day in a period of 90 minutes on average.

Of the six patients, one became asymptomatic after the first application and was suspended; the other five took 2 to 3 sera and were then clinically asymptomatic.

Apart from the invasive procedures in the treatment of kidney stones, medicine is limited in the treatment of this type of pathology. This experimental work from many years ago suggests a promising result, according to the clinical evaluation of these patients and speed of response and due to DMSO’s safety and ease of application,

This clinical evaluation opens space for larger multicenter studies to be done in research centers or university to define the potential relationship of DMSO and its applicability in patients with renal lithiasis. DMSO is a drug known to be safe, apparently efficient in these cases as well as in interstitial cystitis, and everything indicates that the response is relatively rapid from the observations above.

Due to the lack of options in such a frequent and difficult-to-resolve clinical picture, we think it is important to disseminate this information and to encourage research studies that allow confirmation or definition of DMSO’s use in this condition.

References

  1. Olszewer E. DMSO. Fapes Publishing House 2010.
  2. C. Vaille et al. Action of DMSO on experimental renal oxalosis in rats. Ann Pharm Fr. 1971 Apr;29(4)271-84.
  3. Leaky et al. Biological Actions of Dimethyl Sulfoxide. Annals of NYAS. March 1967; 1-671 and January 1975; 5-508.
  4. Archie Scott. The DMSO Handbook. I Universe. 2013.
  5. Morton Walker. DMSO: Nature’s Healer. Avery Publishing Group. 1993.
  6. Bouchelouche K, Alvares S, Bouchelouche P. Smooth muscle laboratory. Department of urology. Herley hospital. University of Copenhagen and Department of clinical biochemistry, Koege Hospital. Abstract. Poster presentation.

NOTE: This work has no conflict of interest, no sponsor involved.

Published June 17, 2023.

About the Author

Efrain Olszewer, MD, who specializes in internal medicine and cardiology, is clinical director of the International Center of Prevention Medicine (CMP) in Brazil. He is the president of the Brazilian Orthomolecular Society and editorial director of the Journal of Orthomolecular Practice. He has written 93 books on health and medicine.