Related Experiment Videos
Aetiology of nephrolithiasis in north Indian children
1Department of Paediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Insights
In half of children with nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), an underlying cause like hypercalciuria was found. Identifying these causes in pediatric kidney stones is crucial for effective treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Urology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Nephrolithiasis, or kidney stones, affects children, necessitating investigation into its causes.
- Understanding the etiology of pediatric kidney stones is vital for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the underlying causes of nephrolithiasis in a cohort of North Indian children.
- To determine the prevalence of metabolic and anatomical abnormalities contributing to kidney stones in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 32 North Indian children diagnosed with nephrolithiasis.
- Evaluation included biochemical tests for metabolic abnormalities and imaging for anatomical defects.
Main Results:
- An underlying disorder was identified in 50% of the children.
- Common causes included idiopathic hypercalciuria (8 patients) and hyperoxaluria (3 patients).
- Other identified causes were renal tubular acidosis, primary hyperparathyroidism, and hyperuricosuria.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of pediatric nephrolithiasis cases have an identifiable underlying cause.
- Early detection and management of these disorders can lead to improved treatment outcomes for children with kidney stones.
Abstract:
The aetiology of nephrolithiasis was investigated in 32 north Indian children (25 boys, 7 girls, mean age 7.9 +/- 3.3 years). An underlying disorder was detected in 16 (50%) patients and included idiopathic hypercalciuria (8 patients), hyperoxaluria (3 patients) and renal tubular acidosis, primary hyperparathyroidism and hyperuricosuria (1 patient each). Magnesium ammonium phosphate calculi were found in 2 patients with recurrent urinary tract infections, 1 of whom had a duplex pelvic collecting system. In 16 patients (50%) a cause for renal calculi was not identified. Our findings suggest that an underlying disorder is present in a large proportion of children with nephrolithiasis where appropriate treatment may be beneficial.