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Urolithiasis in adolescents
American Journal of Diseases of Children (1960)
|November 1, 1978
Summary
Adolescent urolithiasis (urinary tract stones) is often secondary to bladder dysfunction or metabolic disorders. Corticosteroid therapy may also contribute to stone formation in some young patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Urology
- Adolescent Medicine
Background:
- Urolithiasis in adolescents is less common than in adults.
- Identifying the etiology of urinary tract stones in this age group is crucial for management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the clinical features and etiological factors of urolithiasis in adolescent patients.
- To investigate the role of underlying conditions and therapies in adolescent stone formation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 31 adolescent patients (aged 11-20 years) with urolithiasis over a ten-year period.
- Analysis of patient characteristics, stone etiology, and associated medical conditions.
Main Results:
- The majority of urinary tract stones were secondary to pre-existing conditions, most commonly bladder dysfunction (neurogenic or exstrophy).
- Exogenous corticosteroid therapy was implicated in lithogenesis in five patients.
- Childhood inborn errors of metabolism accounted for stones in four patients.
- Four adolescents had no identifiable biochemical, genetic, or anatomical abnormalities, indicating an unknown etiology.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent urolithiasis frequently stems from underlying medical conditions, particularly bladder dysfunction.
- Corticosteroid use and metabolic disorders are significant contributing factors in adolescent stone disease.
- A subset of adolescent urolithiasis cases remains idiopathic, necessitating further research.