Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026
How to Administer Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Critically ill Neonates, Infants, and Children
Published on: August 19, 2020
Pediatric urolithiasis in Morocco: Composition of 432 urinary calculi analyzed by infrared spectroscopy
F Meiouet1, S El Kabbaj1, M Daudon2
1Laboratoire de recherches et d'analyses médicales de la gendarmerie royale, avenue Ibn Sina, Agdal, Rabat, Morocco.
Insights
Pediatric kidney stones in Morocco show varied compositions, with calcium oxalate most common overall. Differences in stone types were observed between boys and girls, highlighting gender-specific patterns in pediatric urolithiasis.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Medical Chemistry
Background:
- Pediatric urolithiasis incidence is declining globally, with shifts in stone composition.
- Data on pediatric stone composition in North Africa, particularly Morocco, is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the composition and morphology of pediatric kidney stones in Morocco.
- To investigate potential differences in stone composition based on patient age and gender.
Main Methods:
- Infrared spectroscopy was used to determine the composition of 432 pediatric stones (1999-2016).
- Stone morphology was examined using a stereomicroscope.
- Compositional data was compared against patient age and gender.
Main Results:
- Calcium oxalate was the predominant stone component (51.6%), followed by struvite (18.1%), ammonium urate (9.5%), and carbapatite (9%).
- Significant gender differences were noted: calcium oxalate stones were more common in girls (72.3%) than boys (42.7%), while struvite stones were more frequent in boys (22.2%) than girls (8.5%).
- Specific stone morphologies indicated underlying conditions: Type Ic whewellite (17.6%) suggested primary hyperoxaluria, and Type IIId ammonium urate (20.1%) suggested infectious diarrhea.
Conclusions:
- This study represents the largest analysis of Moroccan pediatric stones using infrared and morphological examination.
- Findings reveal distinct gender-based patterns in pediatric urolithiasis stone composition in Morocco.
Purpose:
Incidence of pediatric urolithiasis is decreasing in most developing countries where endemic bladder stones are less prevalent than in the past years. In parallel, stone composition has changed. Only few data are available in North Africa, except for Tunisia. We report stone composition in the Moroccan pediatric population.
Material And Methods:
Composition of 432 stones from children (302 boys, 130 girls) was determined by infrared spectroscopy. The samples were collected during the period 1999-2016. Stone morphology, which is an important aspect for etiology was determined by examination of each stone under a stereomicroscope. Stone composition was compared to patients' age and gender.
Results:
The global male-to-female ratio was 2.32. Regarding stone composition, calcium oxalate was the main component in 51.6% of the stones, followed by struvite (18.1%), ammonium urate (9.5%) and carbapatite (9%). Significant differences were found between males and females: calcium oxalate accounted for 72.3% of stones in girls and 42.7% in boys (P<10-6); conversely, struvite was more frequent in boys than in girls (22.2 vs 8.5%, P<10-4). The same was found for calcium phosphate stones (11.9% in boys; 4.6% in girls, P<0.05). Stone morphology helped us for detecting several pathological conditions: type Ic whewellite stones, as a marker for primary hyperoxaluria, was found in 17.6% of stones and type IIId ammonium urate stones, suggestive for infectious diarrhea, was identified in 20.1% of all stones.
Conclusion:
This is the largest series of pediatric stones in Morocco studied by infrared analysis and morphological examination.
Level Of Evidence:
3.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Urinary Tract Calculi I: Introduction
01:28Urinary Tract Calculi V: Nursing Management
01:25Urinary Tract Calculi VI: Surgical Management
01:09Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview
Different compounds display unique properties due to their...
01:27Urinary Tract Calculi IV: Nutrition Therapy and Prevention
01:26Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations