S7 - renal stones Flashcards
what is urolithiasis?
the formation of stones in the urinary tract
where can renal stones form? most common site?
anywhere in the urinary tract
most common in renal pelvis
how do renal stones form?
single or multiple
80% unilateral
often recurrent, especially if an untreated predisposing factor is present
how can renal stones form within the urinary tract?
minute (like sand)
staghorn calculi (cast of pelvic & calyceal system
large concretions in bladder
locations where urinary stones form?
urinary calyx urinary pelvis staghorn (filing pelvis) mid-ureteral stone bladder stones
why have urinary stones incidence decreased?
better diet & living conditions
when are urinary stone formations seen?
in low protein diet, chronic diarrhoea & dehydration
increased oxalate consumption
vitamins A, B1, B6 deficiencies
magnesium deficiency
what is lithotomy?
surgical removal of a calculus from bladder, kidney or urinary tract
what are complications of lithotomy?
haemorrhage, infection, fistulae, incontinence
erectile dysfunction
what are causes of bladder stones?
bladder outflow obstruction
presence of foreign body
passed down form upper urinary tract
what are examples of bladder outflow obstruction?
urethral stricture
neuropathic blader
prostate obstruction
what are examples of presence of foreign body?
catheter
non-absorbable sutures
what can bladder stones lead to?
anuria (<100ml/day)
painful bladder distension
what are renal stones?
solid material formed in kidneys from minerals in urine
what are renal stones also called?
kidney stone
renal calculus
nephrolith
when is the usual onset of renal stones?
usually after 30 years
ratio of men:women = 2:1 (except struvite stones more common in women)
affects 1-5% UK population
what are renal stones made of?
calcium stones (99%)
what are the types of calcium stones?
calcium oxalate combine with calcium phosphate (forming apatite) - 65% (mix of both)
calcium phosphate alone (15%)
when is calcium phosphate alone stones seen?
in hyperparathyroidism & renal tubular acidosis
(metabolic acidosis enhances renal calcium excretion through its effect on TRPV5 in the distal tubule. Besides increased efflux of calcium, the simultaneous release of bicarbonate from bone buffers the metabolic acidosis: B-IC)
when else is calcium stones seen?
uric acid (3-5%) - less Ca2+ apical H+/K+ antiporter doesn't work, more proton retention & K+ excretion so calcium phosphate stones form in lower pH
what other calcium stones are there?
struvite (infection stones) - more common in women (UTI)
urease stones - (breakdown urea to ammonia & CO2)
triple phosphate stones (magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate - from infection by bacteria which have urease)
10-15%
aside from calcium, what other types of renal stones are there?
- cysteine stones (in rare genetic disorder e.g. cystinuria)
- drug stones e.g. indinavir (HIV), triamterene (diuretic), sulphadiazine (antibiotic)
- ammonium acid urate stones
why do urinary stones form?
if there is urine supersaturation with minerals
when do you get urine supersaturation with minerals?
- solvent contains more solute than it can hold in solution
- seed crystal forms by nucleation - first step in formation of a new structure via self assembly
- physical, not chemical reaction
e. g. mentos & coke (mentos has more layers of sugar than coke can hold)
how can urine become supersaturated with minerals?
- decrease in water content
- increase in mineral content
- decrease in solubility of solute in urine (change in urinary pH)
when can you get a decrease in water content?
dehydration
when do you get an increase in mineral content?
- hypercalcaemia (calcium in blood) & hypercalciuria (calcium in urine) - calcium oxalate stones
- hyperoxaluria (excess oxalate in urine)
- hyperuricaemia (uric acid in blood) & hyperuricosuria
- cysteinuria (cysteine in urine)
when do you get a decrease in solubility of solute in urine?
- some solutes more soluble at high pH and some at low pH
2. renal tubular acidosis results in persistently alkaline urine (B-ICells) & decrease urinary citrate excretion
which stone does acidic urine favour the formation of?
calcium oxalate & uric acid stones
which stone does alkaline urine favour the formation of?
calcium phosphate stones
when does calcium phosphate precipitate and what is it dissolved by?
precipitates in alkaline medium
dissolved by acid (chicken bones in vinegar)
as calcium phosphate is main calcium in bones
which stone is supersaturation likely to form?
uric acid & cysteine stones
calcium based stone formation may be more complex
how do renal stones form?
majority (75%) calcium oxalate stones appear to grow like stalactites attached to exposed interstitial deposits of calcium phosphate
‘Randall’s plaque’ on the tips of renal papillae (subepithelial calcification of the renal papilla)
how can renal stones form aside from calcium oxalate on Randall’s plaque?
otherwise stones can form on plugs protruding from ducts of Bellini or free in solution (ducts of Bellini drain into renal papillae)
what are calcium oxalate stones that grow on the tips of renal papillae (Randall’s plaque) composed of?
composed of core of calcium phosphate surrounded by calcium oxalate
what are other causative factors of renal stones formation?
- urine stasis
- drugs
- genetic / congenital factors
- no apparent abnormalities / cause
how do you get urine stasis?
- low urine flow
- obstructive
- infection
what are genetic / congenital factors that cause renal stones?
- primary metabolic disturbances e.g. cystinuria (high concentrations of the amino acid cystine in the urine, form cystine stones)
- kidney abnormalities e.g. polycystic kidneys, medullary sponge kidneys