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The natural history of renal and ureteric calculi
Insights
Kidney stone recurrence can happen up to 10 years after the initial event, with the risk gradually decreasing over time. Factors like hypercalciuria and urinary infections are rarely linked to recurrence, except for specific bacterial infections in women.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Urology
- Stone Disease Research
Background:
- Understanding the long-term natural history of kidney stone disease is crucial.
- Previous studies have not fully elucidated the prolonged recurrence patterns of lithiasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the long-term recurrence rates of kidney stones in a large patient cohort.
- To identify factors influencing stone recurrence over a decade.
Main Methods:
- Prolonged follow-up of 416 patients treated at The London Hospital Stone Clinic.
- Analysis of recurrence events and associated clinical factors.
Main Results:
- Kidney stone recurrence was observed up to 10 years post-initial stone event.
- The risk of recurrence decreased gradually year by year.
- Recurrence was seldom associated with hypercalciuria or general urinary infection, with exceptions noted for B. proteus infections in women.
Conclusions:
- The natural history of kidney stone disease includes a prolonged period of recurrence risk.
- Therapeutic claims for stone disease must consider the slow decline in recurrence risk over time.
- Specific urinary infections, like B. proteus in women, may be linked to recurrence, warranting further investigation.
Abstract:
In a prolonged follow-up of a series of 416 patients at The London Hospital Stone Clinic it was found that recurrence could still occur even as long as 10 years after the first stone, though this risk decrease slowly year by year. Recurrence is seldom related to hypercalciuria or urinary infection except when infection is caused by or associated with B. proteus in women. Claims for the value of any form of therapy for stone disease must be evaluated against the background of the natural history of lithiasis.