A Retrospective Study of Kidney Stone Recurrence in Adults

Nephrolithiasis or kidney stone disease (KSD) is a common disorder worldwide. Despite the availability of a variety of effective management strategies, KSD recurrence remains a problem. In the present study, we investigated the KSD recurrence after the treatment of the first stone episode.

Medical records of all patients who had KDS treated in our department from January 2012 to January 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 146 patients who had KDS recurrence were identified. The demographic information, biochemical data, treatment methods, report of hydronephrosis severity and stone chemical compositions were collected and analyzed.

We reported that: 1) Sixty four (43.8%) out of 146 patients with stone recurrence were overweight or obese; 2) Of all 146 patients with stone recurrence, 86 (58.9%) had hyperlipidemia, 77 (52.4%) had hyperuricemia and 64 (43.8%) had hyperglycemia; 3) Mini-invasive methods were mostly used for the treatment of the first stone episode; 4) The most chief complaint differed during the first episode and recurrence; 5) The number of patients who had grades 3 and 4 hydronephrosis was significantly lower during recurrence compared with that in the first stone episode; 6) Seventy nine (54.1%) patients with recurrence had stone of calcium oxalate.

Majority of patients with KSD recurrence have overweight/obesity, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia and hyperglycemia, indicating a role of metabolic disorders in stone recurrence. Mini-invasive methods are the mainstay for the management of the first stone episode. The degree of hydronephrosis is significantly reduced during stone recurrence, possibly due to increased awareness of the disease and thereafter the change of lifestyle in patients. Over half of recurrent stones are of calcium oxalate.