Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Assessing Urinary Tract Junction Obstruction Defects by Methylene Blue Dye Injection
Published on: October 12, 2017
Urolithiasis in the first year of life
Ayfer Gür Güven1, Mustafa Koyun, Yunus Emre Baysal
1Pediatric Nephrology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
Insights
Infant urolithiasis (UL) can occur early in life, even at birth. Metabolic abnormalities are common in infants with UL, highlighting the need for early detection and management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Urology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Urolithiasis (UL) data in infants is scarce.
- Infant UL may be a precursor to later-life stone disease.
- Nonspecific symptoms like restlessness can indicate infant UL.
Purpose of the Study:
- Increase awareness of infant urolithiasis.
- Investigate risk factors for UL in infants.
- Evaluate metabolic abnormalities in infant UL.
Main Methods:
- Collected urine and blood samples for metabolic analysis.
- Utilized serial ultrasonography for stone monitoring.
- Enrolled 50 infants with a median age of 5 months.
Main Results:
- 46% of infants had at least one metabolic abnormality (hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria, hypocitraturia, cystinuria).
- 17 infants became stone-free within 14 months.
- UL was detected in the newborn period, indicating early onset.
Conclusions:
- Urolithiasis is a concern in early infancy and can persist.
- Early diagnosis via ultrasonography is crucial for infants with nonspecific symptoms.
- Metabolic evaluation presents challenges due to limited reference ranges for infants.
Abstract:
Data on urolithiasis (UL) in infancy are limited. The objective of this study was to increase awareness of infant UL and to investigate the influence of possible risk factors in this very specific age group. Nonfasting, second-voiding urine samples were obtained to test for urinary excretions of calcium, oxalate, citrate, magnesium, uric acid, and creatinine. Blood analysis included calcium, phosphate, magnesium, uric acid, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, and alkaline phosphatase. Patients received follow-up testing every 1-2 months; serial ultrasonography was used to track UL status. Fifty infants with a median age of 5 months were enrolled in the study. Hypercalciuria was detected in 9/47, hyperoxaluria in 5/39, hypocitraturia in 4/31, and cystinuria in 2/50 infants. We identified at least one metabolic abnormality in 46% of our patients; no metabolic abnormality was identified in 27 infants. Within a mean follow-up period of 14 months, 17 infants became stone free, stones increased in number in ten patients and decreased in number in 16, and recurrence was detected in seven. This study showed that UL could be detected in very early life, even in the newborn period, and could be the source of late childhood/adulthood UL. Infants with nonspecific symptoms such as restlessness may have UL and should undergo ultrasonographic examination. Metabolic evaluation of UL in this specific age group carries some diagnostic challenges, e.g. unsatisfactory data regarding normal ranges of urinary mineral excretion, and collection of 24-h urine samples.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Urinary Tract Calculi I: Introduction
01:26Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
01:25Urinary Tract Calculi VI: Surgical Management
01:27Urinary Tract Calculi IV: Nutrition Therapy and Prevention
01:28Urinary Tract Calculi V: Nursing Management
01:30Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management