[Metabolic syndrome, obesity and urolithiasis]

The current concept of metabolic syndrome comprises abdominal obesity and cardiovascular risk factors (HT and metabolic disorders). Compared to a control group, individuals with metabolic syndrome have a fourfold higher risk of cardiovascular disease and an increased risk of diabetes. Apart from cardiovascular morbidity, these patients also appear to have an increased incidence of urolithiasis. Urologists must therefore recognize this syndrome in order to identify this particular subgroup of urolithiasis patients. The objective of this article is to review the metabolic syndrome in order to help urologists to recognize this syndrome so that they can identify patients requiring more specific management and medical follow-up.