[Etiology and pathogenesis of urolithiasis]

For ages nephrolithiasis has been a widespread disease and clinical statistics prove that its morbidity index is still increasing, thus it becomes a social problem. Peak morbidity usually occurs at the age between 30 and 40, that is why many patients professionally active and creative have to leave their jobs for a long period. In contrast to earlier years, frequency of the disease occurrence in females is systematically increasing and nowadays it is only slightly lower from that in males. Etiology and pathogenesis of the disease is also not entirely explained. It is generally accepted that urinary stone formation is determined by multiple factors which affect first of all chemical composition and physical features of urine. Individual properties of the kidneys and urinary tract and infections especially with urease producing pathogens as well as environmental factors are also taken into account. The most favourable circumstances for nephrolithiasis occurrence is co-existence of all these factors.