Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 17, 2025
Estimation of Urinary Nanocrystals in Humans using Calcium Fluorophore Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis
Published on: February 9, 2021
Metabolic risk factors in children with kidney stone disease: an update
Francisco R Spivacow1,2, Elisa E Del Valle3,4, Juan A Boailchuk3
1Instituto de Investigaciones Metabólicas (IDIM), Libertad 836, 1er piso (1012), Buenos Aires, Argentina. spiva@idim.com.ar.
Insights
Most children with kidney stones have identifiable metabolic risk factors, particularly hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia. This study highlights the importance of assessing these factors for diagnosing and treating pediatric nephrolithiasis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Urology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Pediatric kidney stone prevalence is rising, increasing morbidity and healthcare costs.
- Metabolic risk factor assessment is crucial for diagnosis and targeted treatment of pediatric nephrolithiasis.
- This study investigates epidemiological and clinical characteristics of kidney stones in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric kidney stone disease.
- To determine the prevalence of metabolic risk factors in children with nephrolithiasis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study including 300 children under 17 years with kidney stones.
- Standardized clinical tests and biochemical analyses were performed.
- Data collected included patient demographics, clinical presentation, stone location, family history, and urinary metabolic risk factors.
Main Results:
- The mean age of patients was 11.2 years, with a male:female ratio of 1.15:1.0.
- Biochemical abnormalities were present in 89.3% of cases.
- Idiopathic hypercalciuria (47.0%) and hypocitraturia (39.6%) were the most frequent metabolic risk factors, often occurring in combination.
- Renal colic and abdominal pain (76.9%) and hematuria (64.4%) were common presentations.
- A positive family history was noted in over 60% of patients.
Conclusions:
- The majority of children with kidney stones exhibit specific urinary metabolic risk factors.
- Hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia are the most common metabolic diagnoses in pediatric nephrolithiasis.
- Identifying these factors is essential for effective management and prevention strategies in children.
Background:
The prevalence of kidney stones in children has significantly increased in the past few decades, with concomitant increased morbidity and healthcare costs worldwide. Assessing metabolic risk factors is essential for diagnosis and specific treatment. The objective of this retrospective study is to identify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children under 17 years of age, as well as the metabolic risk factors of nephrolithiasis.
Methods:
A total of 300 children with kidney stone disease were included to undergo several clinical tests using a standardized protocol.
Results:
The mean age was 11.2 years, and the male:female ratio was 1.15:1.0. Biochemical abnormalities were found in 89.3% of all cases. A single urine metabolic risk factor was present in 52.6% (n = 141) of the patients, and multiple risk factors were present in 36.7% (n = 106). Idiopathic hypercalciuria (alone or in combination) and hypocitraturia (alone or in combination) were the most frequent risk factors identified in 47.0% and 39.6% of these patients, respectively. Renal colic and/or unspecified abdominal pain were the most frequent forms of presentation (76.9%), followed by hematuria in 64.4% with 97.5% of stones located in the upper urinary tract. A positive family history in first-degree and second-degree relatives was found in 64.8% of boys and 61.8% of girls.
Conclusions:
We conclude that specific urinary metabolic risk factors can be found in most children with kidney stones, with hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia being the most common diagnoses. Graphical abstract .
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:27Urinary Tract Calculi IV: Nutrition Therapy and Prevention
01:28Urinary Tract Calculi I: Introduction
01:30Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management
01:26Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
01:24Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations
01:28Urinary Tract Calculi V: Nursing Management