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Published on: February 9, 2021
First Reported Case of a Pyrophosphate Kidney Stone in a Human
Michael R Gigax1, Lee Yang2, Glenn Austin3
1Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital Urology, Dover, OH, USA.
This study reports the first human case of kidney stones made of potassium magnesium pyrophosphate. This finding led to the diagnosis of hypophosphatasia, a genetic disorder causing pyrophosphate buildup.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Metabolic Bone Disease
- Urology
Background:
- Urolithiasis (kidney stones) composed of pyrophosphate salts, specifically potassium magnesium pyrophosphate, has been documented only in animals.
- Hypophosphatasia is a rare inherited disorder marked by low alkaline phosphatase and elevated pyrophosphate levels in blood and urine, with urolithiasis being a known complication.
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