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Published on: February 9, 2021
Stone formation and pregnancy: pathophysiological insights gained from morphoconstitutional stone analysis.
Paul Meria1, Haider Hadjadj, Paul Jungers
1St-Louis Hospital, Necker Hospital, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, and Paris V and Paris VII University, Paris Cedex, France. paul.meria@sls.aphp.fr
The Journal of Urology
|February 23, 2010
Summary
Pregnant women form kidney stones with different compositions, primarily calcium phosphate, suggesting unique pregnancy-related causes. This differs significantly from stones in non-pregnant individuals.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis) can occur during pregnancy, posing risks to both mother and fetus.
- Understanding stone composition is crucial for identifying underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if kidney stone composition in pregnant women differs from that in non-pregnant women.
- To explore potential pathophysiological conditions specific to pregnancy that influence stone formation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of kidney stone composition from 244 pregnant women and 5,712 non-pregnant women using morphological examination and infrared spectroscopy.
- Comparison of clinical and biochemical characteristics between pregnant and non-pregnant patient groups.
Main Results:
- Kidney stones in pregnant women were predominantly calcium phosphate (65.6%) compared to non-pregnant women (31.4%).
- Carbapatite was the main calcium phosphate component, with a 5-fold higher proportion in pregnant women.
- Stone episodes occurred mainly in the second and third trimesters, with higher spontaneous passage rates in pregnant women (81% vs. 47%).
Conclusions:
- Kidney stone composition during pregnancy is distinct, indicating a unique pathophysiology.
- Elevated maternal urinary calcium and pH likely contribute to preferential calcium phosphate stone formation in pregnancy.
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