Midwest
Stone InstituteMidwest
Stone Institute
How Can Kidney Stones Be Prevented?
Copyright 1995 Health ResponseAbility Systems, Inc.Stones tend to be multiple and tend to recur even after spontaneous passage or surgical removal. Therefore, effective prevention depends on determining the specific cause of stone formation.
After an individual has passed a kidney stone, the physician usually orders a careful metabolic workup (see UroCor, Inc. for metabolic stone evaluation information), and has the stone analyzed to identify its exact composition. The workup may include several blood tests, and the individual may be asked to collect 24 hour urine samples.The urine tests enable the doctor to determine if hypercalciuria (an abnormal level of calcium in the urine), hypocitraturia (low levels of citrate in the urine) or hyperuricosuria (excessive uric acid in the urine) are present. Individuals with these conditions account for about two-thirds of those with calcium stone disease.
In some cases, diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide may be prescribed to decrease the excretion of calcium. Such "water pills" often are very effective in preventing the recurrence of calcium stones. Individuals with hypercalciuria who also have hyperuricosuria may be treated with a drug called allopurinol.
Individuals with hypercalciuria often can control stone formation simply by drinking a lot of fluids and following a moderately low calcium diet. Some individuals with absorptive hypercalciuria may be placed on a low-oxalate diet and receive the drug sodium cellulose phosphate, which has been found to inhibit formation of these stones.
Physicians sometimes find that by using chemical agents to manipulate the acidity or alkalinity of the urine, crystal formation can be inhibited and stone formation prevented. Individuals with calcium oxalate stones are usually advised to avoid foods with high oxalate content, and in some cases are advised to avoid foods fortified with vitamin D, and antacids that have a calcium base.
An age-old treatment, increasing the patient's daily consumption of liquids (primarily water) is a worthwhile preventive measure regardless of the type of stones involved. On average people with a history of kidney stones are advised to drink 3 quarts of fluid a day.
I-phone Fluid Intake Application Information
For more information call Midwest Stone Institute at
(314) 835-1549
or
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