Types of Kidney Stones

Types of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are classified into five major types according to their composition. Formation of kidney stones can lead to severe renal complications. It is best to check with your doctor if you have doubts about developing kidney stones. Some common kidney stones types are described below

Calcium stones: This is one of the major kidney stones types.  They are usually found in people who end up taking excessive calcium in the form of supplements. Sometimes too much of calcium is absorbed from the diet and it is excreted into the urine where it forms as crystals. Similarly, excessive absorption of vitamin D can lead to Calcium stone formation. If you are diagnosed with this type of stones then you need to control the intake of meat as well as dairy products and should opt for a low calcium high fiber diet.

Allopurinal is one of the most effective drugs for people who suffer from calcium stones. But if the drug has any side effects in any of the patient, then he/ she should stop consuming the drugs.

Uric acid stones:  The second major kidney stones type is uric acid stones. People who receive Chemotherapy treatment for curing cancer have more concentration of uric acid in urine than normal people and so they are susceptible to uric acid stone formation. People who live in hot areas especially those who do not drink water have the chance of frequent dehydration. They may also pass low volume of urine. This increases the risk of uric acid stones. People who suffer from inflammatory bowel disorders or have the chronic diarrhea have a low pH urine along with a low volume of urine. Such people are vulnerable to uric acid stone formation.

Struvite stones: This is one of the kidney stone types. It occurs mainly due to urinary tract infections. The bacteria that produce urinary tract infections and thereby Struvite stones are proteus and klebsiella. Any conditions that cause urinary tract infection with bacteria have the ability to produce ammonia, which is a key factor in Struvite stone formation. Since bladder may have some urine stagnant, the possibility of bacteria growing is more.

Struvite stone does not really show any symptoms like other stones. However, recurrent urinary tract infection may be a symptom of Struvite stone.

Cystine stones: Cystine stones are not common since their formation highly relates to a rare disease called Cystinuria. This problem occurs mainly in children and young adults. Children who have family history of this stone are more likely to be affected by this disease. The main reason for developing cystine stones is that normal kidneys can reabsorb the amino acid filtered in the urine and then transfer it to the blood but in cystinuria, the kidney fails to reabsorb the cystine amino acid from the urine. Therefore, cystine dissolves in the urine and form crystals.

Drug stone: These are however, rare kidney stones types. Certain drugs taken to cure some other disease may form crystals and then such crystals will grow as stones. Persons who are undergoing treatment for HIV infection using  triamterene and protease inhibitor indinavir are susceptible to drug stone formation.
Although we divide kidney stones types into 5 classifications, kidney stones can also be formed as a combination of more than one or two types. In fact, one type of kidney stone formation tends to increase the chance of another type of stone formation.