RENAL CALCULI/ Nephrolithiasis
(kidney stones)
➔ Blood is filtered by the kidneys where waste gets removed and turned into
urine which collects in the kidney’s pelvis and drains down a tube called a
ureter and down to the bladder.
➔ Stone growth starts with the formation of crystals in supersaturated urine.
Causes /risk factors
● Low fluid intake/ dehydration - low fluid intake equals concentrated urine
causing supersaturation and crystallization of stone forming compounds.
● Hypercalciuria- 80% of stones are calcium based either calcium oxalate or
calcium phosphate. Patients with hyperparathyroidism have an increased
risk of hypercalciuria therefore a high risk of kidney stone formation.
● High salt diet - high salt diet increases urinary calcium output. Nah
prevents calcium reabsorption.
● High oxalate diet- peanuts, nuts, rhubarb
● Blockage- obstruction that causes stasis of urine in the bladder/ ureter i.e
prostate problems.
● GI Issues- fats bind with calcium instead of calcium binding with oxalates
to be excreted.
● Low activity/immobile- high amount of minerals in the body causing build
up instead of being excreted
● Parathyroidism- parathyroid hormone causes bones to release Calcim
hence a high risk
(kidney stones)
➔ Blood is filtered by the kidneys where waste gets removed and turned into
urine which collects in the kidney’s pelvis and drains down a tube called a
ureter and down to the bladder.
➔ Stone growth starts with the formation of crystals in supersaturated urine.
Causes /risk factors
● Low fluid intake/ dehydration - low fluid intake equals concentrated urine
causing supersaturation and crystallization of stone forming compounds.
● Hypercalciuria- 80% of stones are calcium based either calcium oxalate or
calcium phosphate. Patients with hyperparathyroidism have an increased
risk of hypercalciuria therefore a high risk of kidney stone formation.
● High salt diet - high salt diet increases urinary calcium output. Nah
prevents calcium reabsorption.
● High oxalate diet- peanuts, nuts, rhubarb
● Blockage- obstruction that causes stasis of urine in the bladder/ ureter i.e
prostate problems.
● GI Issues- fats bind with calcium instead of calcium binding with oxalates
to be excreted.
● Low activity/immobile- high amount of minerals in the body causing build
up instead of being excreted
● Parathyroidism- parathyroid hormone causes bones to release Calcim
hence a high risk
