Kidney stones . The two kidneys are located deep behind the abdominal organs, below the ribs and toward the middle of the back. Kidney stones are hard, solid particles that form in the urinary tract. If a stone (even a small one) blocks the flow of urine, excruciating pain may result, and prompt medical treatment may be needed. A CT scan is usually the best way to diagnose kidney stones and to pinpoint their location, size, and number. Treatment. Painful kidney stones require treatment. Depending on the type of kidney stone, dietary changes, medicines, and other noninvasive treatments are available. Small stones less than 5 mm usually pass on their own. Continued Other Methods to Induce Labor. When it comes to inducing labor, the following methods draw mixed reviews from childbirth experts. Either there's no evidence.Whether you're looking to lose weight or just want a way to get rid of that nasty cold, eHow has all the answers you're looking for. In these cases, medication and dietary changes may be all that is needed. Larger stones, stones that are causing damage to the kidneys, or stones that do not pass on their own, usually respond well to treatments such as ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), and extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL). Preventive drug therapy is matched to the exact type of stone formation. For some types of stones, this can be highly effective with a success rate of over 8. A recent trial showed that percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) may be an effective option for patients with moderate- size stones 1. In the past, these patients underwent extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL). For moderate- size stones, stone clearance was better with PNL than SWL. In addition, advances in PNL have made it similar to SWL in side effects and patient outcomes. Introduction. Kidney stones are hard, solid particles that form in the urinary tract. In many cases, the stones are very small and can pass out of the body without any problems. However, if a stone (even a small one) blocks the flow of urine, excruciating pain may result, and prompt medical treatment may be needed. Urine is formed in the kidneys. The kidneys filter out fluids and waste from the body, producing urine. As the urine passes through the kidneys, it becomes more concentrated. From the kidneys, urine flows through thin tubes called ureters into the bladder. The bladder's stretchy walls expand to store the incoming urine until it leaves the body through a tube called the urethra. The two kidneys are located deep behind the abdominal organs, below the ribs and toward the middle of the back. The kidneys are responsible for removing wastes from the body, regulating electrolyte balance and blood pressure, and stimulating red blood cell production. Eventually these crystals become large enough to form stones in the kidney, a condition called nephrolithiasis. Stones (calculi) may also form in the ureter or the bladder. Combinations of minerals and other chemicals, some derived from a person's diet, make up the salts in these stones. About 8. 0% of all kidney stones contain calcium, usually combined with oxalate, or oxalic acid. Many common vegetables, fruits, and grains contain oxalate. A smaller percentage of calcium stones are made of calcium phosphate (called brushite). Uric Acid Stones. Uric acid is responsible for almost 1. It is the breakdown product of purines, nitrogen compounds found in the body and in certain foods. Uric acid enters the bloodstream, and then passes primarily into the kidneys. From the kidneys, uric acid leaves the body in the urine. Often, uric acid stones occur with calcium stones. Struvite Stones. Struvite stones are made of magnesium ammonium phosphate. They are almost always associated with certain urinary tract infections. Worldwide, they account for up to 3. In the United States, however, fewer than 1. Most struvite stones occur in women. The rate of these stones may be declining in America, perhaps because of better control of urinary tract infections. Cystine Stones. A buildup of the amino acid cystine, a building block of protein, causes 1% of kidney stones in adults and up to 8% of stones in children. The tendency to form these stones is inherited. Cystine stones grow rapidly and tend to recur. If not treated promptly, they can eventually lead to kidney failure. Xanthine Stones. Other kidney stones are composed of xanthine, a nitrogen compound.
These stones are extremely uncommon and usually occur as a result of a rare genetic disorder. Normally, urine contains substances that protect against stone formation, including: Magnesium. Citrate. Pyrophosphate. Enzymes. These substances: Allow chemicals in the urine to be at high concentrations without forming crystals. Prevent crystal formation. Coat the crystals and prevent them from sticking to the surface of kidney tubes. Not having enough of these protective substances can cause stones. Changes in the Acidity of the Urine. Changes in the acid balance of the urine can affect stone formation. Uric acid and cystine stones mainly form in acidic urine. Calcium phosphate and struvite stones increase in alkaline urine. Causes of Calcium Stones. Often, the cause of calcium stones is not known. The condition is then called idiopathic nephrolithiasis. Research suggests that nearly all stones result from problems in the breakdown and absorption of calcium and oxalate. Genetic factors may play a role in about half of these cases. Many medical conditions and drugs can also affect digestion and intestinal absorption. Excess Calcium in the Urine (Hypercalciuria). Hypercalciuria (too much calcium in the urine) is responsible for as many as 7. A number of conditions may produce hypercalciuria. Many are due to genetic factors, but most cases are due to unknown causes (idiopathic). The following can lead to hypercalciuria and calcium stones: Too much calcium absorbed by the intestines. This is usually caused by genetic factors. Excessive chloride. Chloride has a negative charge and calcium has a positive charge, so they balance each other in the body. Excess chloride may lead to excess calcium. Renal calcium leak. In this condition, the kidney does not regulate minerals normally, causing an increase of calcium in the urine. Excessive sodium. High urinary levels of sodium result in increased levels of calcium. Certain defects in the kidney tubules transport system cause imbalances in sodium and phosphate, which can lead to high calcium levels in the urine. A high- salt diet can also produce this effect. Excess Oxalate in the Urine (Hyperoxaluria). Oxalate is the most common stone- forming compound. Too much oxalate in the urine is responsible for up to 6. Hyperoxaluria can be either primary or secondary. Primary hyperoxaluria is an inherited disorder in which too much oxalate in the urine is the main problem. Secondary hyperoxaluria results from specific conditions that cause high levels of urinary oxalate. Secondary hyperoxaluria is usually caused by too much dietary oxalates (found in a number of common vegetables, fruits, and grains) or by problems in the body's breakdown of oxalates. Such defects may be due to various factors: Severe vitamin B6 deficiencies (usually due to genetic disorders)Deficiencies in Oxalobacter formigenes, an intestinal bacteria that breaks down oxalate. Short bowel syndrome, a condition that generally occurs when portions of the small intestines are removed. It causes an inability to properly absorb fat and nutrients. Calcium may bind to the unabsorbed fat instead of to the oxalates, which causes a buildup of oxalate. Androgens (male hormones)Female hormones (estrogens) actually lower the risk of hyperoxaluria. Estrogen may help prevent the formation of calcium oxalate stones by keeping urine alkaline, and by raising protective citrate levels. Patients who undergo the most common type of gastric bypass surgery, the Roux- en- Y, may be at increased risk for calcium oxalate kidney stones beginning 6 months after surgery. The added kidney stone risk is thought to be due to changes in the urine. Patients who have undergone Roux- en- Y gastric bypass surgery have excess oxalate and low levels of citrate in their urine after the procedure. Another type of weight loss surgery, gastric banding, does not appear to increase the risk for kidney stones. Excessive Calcium in the Bloodstream (Hypercalcemia). Hypercalcemia generally occurs when bones break down and release too much calcium into the bloodstream. This is a process called resorption. It can occur from several different diseases and events: Hyperparathyroidism. Overactive parathyroid glands cause about 5% of calcium stones. People with this disorder have at least a 2. Women are more likely to have this disorder than men. Immobilization. Lack of movement can lead to kidney stones. Renal tubular acidosis. This disorder causes an acid and alkaline imbalance. Renal tubular acidosis not only increases calcium levels in the bloodstream, but it also reduces protective citrate levels. Hyperuricosuria is a condition in which there are high levels of uric acid in the urine. It occurs in 1. 5 - 2. Urate, the salt formed from uric acid, creates the center of a crystal (nidus), around which calcium oxalate crystals form and grow. Such stones tend to be severe and recurrent. They appear to be strongly related to a high intake of protein. Citrate is the main substance in the body that is responsible for removing excess calcium. It also blocks the process that turns calcium crystals into stones. Low levels of citrate in the urine is a significant risk factor for calcium stones. Hypocitraturia also increases the risk for uric acid stones. This condition most likely contributes to about a third of all kidney stones. Many conditions can reduce citrate levels, including: Renal tubular acidosis. Potassium or magnesium deficiency. Urinary tract infection. Kidney failure. Chronic diarrhea. Low Levels of Other Stone- Blocking Compounds. Several other compounds in the urine, including magnesium and pyrophosphate, also prevent the formation of calcium stones. If any of these compounds are lacking, stones may develop. Causes of Uric Acid Stones. Human body tissues, and certain foods, contain substances called purines. Purine- containing foods include dried beans, peas, and liver.
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