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Simplified methods for the evaluation of the risk of forming renal stones and the follow-up of stone-forming propensity during the preventive treatment of stone-formation

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Abstract

Renal lithiasis is a complex multifactorial disease in which recurrence is common. Thus, simple and reliable procedures are needed to evaluate patients with previous kidney stones to determine the risk of recurrence. In this paper we review simple biochemical procedures that can be used to determine the risk for renal stone formation when the stone is available or unavailable for analysis. Our present knowledge of renal lithiasis indicates that renal stones form due to several well-defined factors. Analysis of the renal stone itself can provide important information about clinical factors that require further investigation. When the stone is unavailable, it is necessary to perform a general evaluation of main urinary risk factors associated to renal stone formation, but this study should be complemented considering information related to direct familial antecedents, recidivant degree, radiological images, medical history, and life style habits. Finally, tools for patient follow-up of stone-forming propensity during the preventive treatment are discussed .

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant PI 14/00853 from the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Gobierno de España), and by FEDER funds (European Union).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Renal Lithiasis Research, Faculty of Sciences, Universitary Institute of Health Sciences Research (IUNICS), University of Balearic Islands, 07122, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    Fèlix Grases & Antonia Costa-Bauzá

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  1. Fèlix Grases
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  2. Antonia Costa-Bauzá
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Correspondence to Fèlix Grases.

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Grases, F., Costa-Bauzá, A. Simplified methods for the evaluation of the risk of forming renal stones and the follow-up of stone-forming propensity during the preventive treatment of stone-formation. Urolithiasis 44, 77–82 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-015-0838-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-015-0838-5

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