Kidney Stones Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Kidney Stones, including details on causes, symptoms, treatment, diagnosis of nephrolithiasis, calculi.

ACP Best Practice No 181: Chemical pathology clinical investigation and management of nephrolithiasis.

Reynolds TM

Clinical Chemistry Department, Queen's Hospital, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, UK. tim.reynolds@burtonh-tr.wmids.nhs.uk

Renal stones have afflicted humans for millennia but there is still no solution to this problem. This review discusses the laboratory and metabolic aspects of the clinical management of patients with renal stones, both primary and secondary in origin. First, non-pharmacological interventions such as increased fluid intake, decreased protein consumption, dietary changes in sodium, calcium, oxalate, potassium, purine, vitamins, and essential fatty acids are considered. Then specific pharmacological treatment to modify urine calcium, oxalate, urate, citrate, and acidity are considered. Finally, more unusual types of stone are examined.

Published 28 January 2005 in J Clin Pathol, 58(2): 134-40.
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