Family history of renal stones in recurrent stone patients

A survey was carried out on the family history of renal stones among 380 patients in an out-patient stone clinic, most of whom had experienced frequent recurrences. In 55.4% of patients at least one first-degree relative had experienced renal stones. A positive family history was more common in females (64.7%) than in males (51.0%) and was particularly apparent in those who had multiple recurrences. It was also significantly more common in female patients with evidence of renal tubular defects (incomplete forms of renal tubular acidosis). Among the ordinary stone patients 18% of the fathers and 8% of the mothers had also formed renal stones. The corresponding figures for female stone patients with renal tubular defects were 40 and 33% respectively. These findings indicate that tubular dysfunction could be an inherited trait that predisposes to the formation of renal stones. Hypercalciuria or hyperuricosuria was not over-represented among stone formers with a positive family history.