Kidney Stones - Complications

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• Renal tubular acidosis
• Potassium or magnesium deficiency
• Urinary tract infection
• Kidney failure
• Chronic diarrhea

Low Levels of Other Stone-Blocking Compounds. Nephrocalcin-A,uropontin, glycosaminoglycan, magnesium, and pyrophosphate in urine also prevent the formation of calcium stones. If any of these compounds are lacking, stones may develop.

Nanobacteria Infection. Nanobacteria are tiny infectious organisms that can pass from the blood into urine. They coat themselves with mineral deposits that resemble the composition of kidney stones. Cells infected with these bacteria develop mineral deposits on the inside and outside. Researchers believe that nanobacteria may form the cores of the kidney stones in many people.

Causes of Uric Acid Stones

Uric acid is produced when substances in the body called purines break down. Purines are found in human body tissue and certain foods such as dried beans, peas, and liver, and certain alcoholic drinks.

The following conditions are usually seen in patients with uric acid stones:

• Too much acid in the urine for a prolonged period (the most important cause of uric acid stones)
• Lower than normal amounts of urine produced.
• A metabolic disorder that leads to high levels of uric acid in the urine (hyperuricosuria)

Note: Hyperuricosuria can also trigger calcium stones. Therefore, a combination of calcium and uric acid stones may be present in patients with hyperuricosuria.

A number of conditions may contribute to or cause uric acid stones.

• Gout (Uric acid and other kidney stones develop in 10 -25% of patients with primary gout, a painful form of arthritis that occurs when uric acid in the blood forms crystals in one or more joints.)
• Diabetes. New research has shown that people with type 2 diabetes have highly acidic urine that can lead to kidney stones, particularly uric acid stones. The findings are published in the May 2006 Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
• Insulin resistance
• Possibly kidney abnormalities that reduces ammonia productions, particularly in people with diabetes or insulin resistance
• Genetic factors
• Hypocitraturia, a low amount of citrate in the urine
• Diets overly rich in animal proteins (purines)
• Certain medications (chemotherapy agents, diuretics, and salicylates)
• Binge drinking
• Not eating for long periods of time (fasting)
• Lead poisoning
• Blood cancers (leukemia, multiple myeloma, and lymphomas)
• Some rare types of anemia
• Chronic diarrhea