Wednesday 21 November 2007

Genetics and kidney stones

A variety of factors can create the conditions that allow kidney stones to form. These factors include:
Some disturbances in the body's metabolism
Certain inherited defects
Abnormalities within the body
Sometimes, however, it's impossible to determine why a kidney stone has developed.
Each type of stone has its own requirements for formation.
Calcium stones form from the following:
Most calcium stones form for unknown reasons, although a genetic basis is suspected.
Certain foods can upset the balance of acid in the urine.
Cancer can cause the body to produce an abnormally large amount of parathyroid hormone, which regulates calcium levels in the body. High levels of this hormone can break down bone and releases too much calcium into the blood. As a result, calcium saturates the urine.
Uric acid stones form from the following:
Gout, the result of a genetic defect, is a disease that increases the body's production of uric acid. High levels of uric acid in the urine can cause stones to form.
An inherited tendency can lead to the development of this type of stone, although the specific reason is unknown.
Certain gastrointestinal conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, also can lead to the formation of uric acid stones.
Cystine stones can form from high amounts of cystine in the urine, the result of a rare in inherited abnormality.
Struvite stones may form in the kidney or bladder as a result of infection from certain bacteria.

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