A patient exhibiting hyperoxaluria is prescribed potassium citrate. If the concentration of citrate in the renal filtrate increases, which consequence follows?

💡 Explanation

Citrate inhibits calcium oxalate crystallization in the kidneys by complexing with calcium, thereby reducing the supersaturation of calcium oxalate; because citrate acts as a crystallization inhibitor, a rise in citrate decreases calcium oxalate supersaturation. Therefore, decreased calcium oxalate supersaturation occurs, rather than promoting stone formation or significantly altering tubule pH.

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