Stone Issue

The occurrence of kidney stones run in the family. This means genetic defect is one of the causes of urinary stone formation. One way of looking at this is, as the kidney filters and processes blood into urine, defects in the processing result in high concentrations of stone forming minerals like calcium, oxalate and uric acid. These mineral deposits accumulate over time to become kidney stones. The defective kidney may also cause too low a concentration of stone preventing minerals like citrates.

About 90% of urinary stones are mixed stones with the commonest minerals being calcium and oxalate. In minority of cases or about 10% of the time, we will find pure uric acid stones.

In calcium-based stones, treatment using shockwaves or holmium laser technology would remove the stones efficiently. These treatments shatter the stones into fine fragments that can then be flushed out safely during urination.

To date, there is no known medication that can dissolve calcium urinary stones. On the other hand, pure uric acid stones can be treated with oral medication, with a good possibility of dissolving them if there is no obstruction and there is good kidney function.

In urinary stone management, removal of the stones as well as prevention of recurrence are equally important. In select individuals, we can lower the chance of stone recurrences with tailored dietary changes according to one’s chemistry. A thorough checkup and close consultation with a kidney specialist is necessary to ensure a proper and effective plan.