Renal Calculi / Stone (गुर्दे की पथरी)

Renal Calculi / Stone (गुर्दे की पथरी)

        Renal calculi are a common cause of blood in the urine (hematuria) and pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin. They occur in one in 11 people at some time in their lifetimes with men affected 2 to 1 over women. Development of the stones is related to decreased urine volume or increased excretion of stone-forming components such as calcium, oxalate, uric acid, cystine, xanthine, and phosphate. Calculi may also be caused by low urinary citrate levels or excessive urinary acidity. 

        The four major types of renal calculi include

• Calcium stones (due to hyperparathyroidism, renal calcium leak, hyperoxaluria, hypomagnesemia, and hypocitraturia)
• Uric acid stones are associated with a pH of less than 5, a high intake of purine foods (fish, legumes, meat), or cancer. These stones may also be associated with gout.
• Struvite stones (caused by gram negative-urease positive organisms that breakdown urea into ammonia. Common organisms include pseudomonas, proteus, and klebsiella. E coli is not associated with struvite stones)
• Cystine stones are due to an intrinsic metabolic defect causing the failure of the renal tubules to reabsorb cystine, lysine, ornithine, and arginine.