Kidney stones: calcium stones

Kidney stones: calcium stones
Calcium salts are found in 80 percent of all stones
Calcium salts are the most common constituents of urinary stones. Of all urinary stones found about 60 to 75 percent is composed of calcium oxalate and 2 to 5 percent of calcium phosphate. Calcium oxalate stones usually have a rounded shape, whereas calcium phosphate stones next round shapes also ausgussförmig the renal pelvis can be adjusted. Calcium phosphate stones are usually found together as mixed stones with calcium oxalate or struvite stones.


The primary overactivity of the parathyroid gland is a possible cause of calcium stones
The most common known cause of calcium-containing stones is the primary hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid glands with increased formation of parathyroid hormone). This disease occurs most often due to benign tumors of the parathyroid glands, thereby producing excessive amounts of parathyroid hormone. Parathyroid hormone is responsible for the provision of vital calcium in the body. How exactly it works, you can read here. Parathyroid hormone is elevated quantities, can also increase calcium levels in the blood. As a result, even more calcium is excreted in the urine. Exceeds the urinary calcium concentration, the solubility limit, can crystallize in calcium stones. About 4 percent of all Harnsteinpatienten have a Hyperparthyreoidismus.


Women in menopause are at increased risk
Not just a benign tumor of the adrenal glands can lead to an increase of calcium in the blood. Also, women after menopause are at increased risk. Due to the lack of estrogen after menopause can lead to the breakdown of bone. A known risk for women after the menopause is osteoporosis. Calcium is the main component of bone. By estrogen deficiency, it is increasingly delivered from the bone into the blood and excreted in the urine. Even with immobilization through bed rest or inactivity, there is increased to reduce the bone matrix and thus to the excretion of calcium.


Rare causes are hereditary
Other less common causes of calcium-containing stones are vitamin D overdose, hyperoxaluria (rare, hereditary disorder of the enzyme defect with oxalic acid metabolism) (founded in renal tubular acidosis) or renal tubular acidosis.


In the summer of calcium stones are particularly common
All these causes may also be additional factors increases or decreases. Thus, for example known that urinary stones are below a certain specific gravity can not. This specific urine weight gives an indication of the urine concentration. People who take plenty of fluids and excrete more than 2 liters of urine per day, are exposed to a lower risk of stone. In summer, however, if the water loss through sweating is higher, the drinking behavior must be adjusted accordingly. In addition, it comes through the increased UV radiation to the increased formation of vitamin D, because part of the vitamin D production occurs in the skin. Vitamin D helps the parathyroid hormone in the delivery of calcium. Therefore, in the summer more calcium accumulated by the body and thus eliminated. Another reason for the summer accumulation of calcium stones is the increased dietary supply of calcium and oxalate, which is increasingly occurring in fruits.


The stone formation is often no specific cause can be assigned
Anyone who is aware of these dangers can avoid some of the risks to the formation of calcium stones. Overall, however, is detectable at 2 / 3 of all calcium stones no specific cause. You are idiopathic, which means a cause for the increased calcium excretion in the urine can not be found.