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Published on: October 12, 2017
Urolithiasis in the First 2 Months of Life
1Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. naserim@mums.ac.ir.
Insights
Urinary tract stones (urolithiasis) in infants under two months are often linked to hypercalciuria. Most infants with kidney stones did not require surgical intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Urology
- Infant Health
Background:
- Urolithiasis (kidney stones) in very young infants is uncommon, with limited existing data.
- This study reviews clinical, imaging, and biochemical data for infants diagnosed with urolithiasis within the first two months of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics and risk factors of urolithiasis in neonates and young infants.
- To identify common metabolic abnormalities and contributing factors in infant kidney stone cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 77 infants (≤60 days old) diagnosed with urolithiasis over 11 years.
- Utilized urinalysis, urine culture, serum/urine biochemistry (calcium, uric acid, oxalate, creatinine), and ultrasonography for diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Irritability was the most frequent symptom (37.6%); 49.4% had a family history of stones.
- Hypercalciuria was the predominant metabolic abnormality (33.8%); urinary tract infection was infrequent.
- Most infants (55.8%) were managed conservatively, with no need for surgical intervention during follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Hypercalciuria is the primary metabolic factor associated with kidney stones in young infants.
- Urinary tract infections were not a significant factor in the development of urolithiasis in this cohort.
Introduction:
There is limited data about urolithiasis in young infants. We reviewed clinical, imaging, and biochemical data of urolithiasis in the first 2 months of life.
Materials And Methods:
In an 11-year period, 77 of the 1172 children diagnosed with urolithiasis (6.8%) were 60 days old and younger (64.9% boys and 35.1% girls). Routine diagnostic assessments included urinalysis and urine culture; measurement of calcium, uric acid, oxalate, and creatinine in nonfasting random urine; measurement of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine, sodium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus levels; and venous blood gasometry. Urinary calculi were diagnosed using tridimensional ultrasonography with 5-MHz, 7.5-Mhz, and 10-MHz probes.
Results:
The most common symptom was irritability (37.6%). A family history of urinary calculi was documented in 49.4% of the patients. The calculi were 0.5 mm to 6 mm in length. Eight infants (10.4%) had urinary tract infection. Hypercalciuria was found in 21 of 62 patients (33.8%). There were no cases of hyperuricosuria, hyperoxaluria, or struvite calculus. Vesicoureteral reflux was reported in 9 of 20 patients who underwent voiding cystourethrography. Two-thirds of asymptomatic and 85% of symptomatic infants were diagnosed during summer and autumn, and the peaks of calculus visits were in September, October, and November. Of 43 infants (55.8%) who were followed up (Mean, 16.2 ± 15.2 months), none needed calculus removal interventions.
Conclusions:
Hypercalciuria is the most common urinary metabolic abnormality in young infants with urinary calculus. Infection was not an important factor for our cohort in the pathogenesis of the disease.
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