Kidney Calculi: Pathophysiology and as a Systemic Disorder.

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Urology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Urinary stone formation (nephrolithiasis) pathophysiology is multifactorial, involving metabolic, genetic, and environmental influences.
• Calcium kidney calculi pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment understanding has advanced significantly.
• Nephrolithiasis is increasingly recognized as a systemic disease, not merely an isolated disorder.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of urinary stone pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management.
• To integrate recent findings with existing knowledge on calcium kidney calculi.
• To highlight the systemic implications of nephrolithiasis.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive PubMed search for original and review articles on urinary calculi pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management.
• Integration of literature findings with expert knowledge in the field.

Main Results:

• Nephrolithiasis is associated with numerous systemic disorders, including chronic kidney insufficiency, endocrine disorders, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and vascular diseases.
• These associations suggest a broader impact of kidney stones beyond the urinary tract.
• The review consolidates current knowledge on the complex interplay of factors in stone formation.

Conclusions:

• The perspective on nephrolithiasis is evolving from an isolated condition to a systemic disease.
• Further research is crucial to elucidate the underlying mechanisms connecting nephrolithiasis with systemic disorders.
• Developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies is warranted based on this systemic view.