Uric Acid Nephrolithiasis

Excerpt

Uric acid nephrolithiasis, a form of kidney stone disease, results from the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the kidneys. These crystals can aggregate into stones, leading to painful and potentially recurrent urinary tract obstructions. This condition often correlates with elevated uric acid levels in the bloodstream, known as hyperuricemia. Almost two-thirds of all uric acid kidney stones can be dissolved by increasing urinary pH and volume and decreasing hyperuricosuria.

Nephrolithiasis is a frequent health problem in developed nations, with an estimated 2 to 5% of people affected at least once in their lifetimes worldwide. Numerous conditions increase susceptibility to nephrolithiasis, including genetic disorders, underlying metabolic processes, and dietary and environmental factors. Medical conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes mellitus, gout, hypertension, and chronic renal failure, can be associated with uric acid nephrolithiasis.

Swedish pharmacist C. Scheele first identified what we now call "uric acid" as the primary acidic component of bladder stones in 1776. Renal and, specifically, bladder stones made of uric acid have historically inflicted immense pain and suffering. In the absence of modern interventions, the sole available treatment was high-risk surgery with significant mortality rates. Sir Isaac Newton and Michelangelo are 2 of many prominent historical figures who had recurrent uric acid kidney stones.