What Lies Beneath the Stone? Metabolic Insights From Composition-Based Analysis of Kidney Stones

Overview

This retrospective observational study investigates the metabolic abnormalities associated with different types of kidney stones by analyzing their composition. The study includes adult patients diagnosed with urolithiasis, whose stone samples were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Clinical, biochemical, and 24-hour urine metabolic parameters were compared between first-time and recurrent stone formers, and among subtypes of calcium oxalate stones (monohydrate vs. dihydrate). The goal is to identify metabolic risk factors that contribute to stone formation and recurrence, and to provide insights for individualized prevention strategies.

This retrospective study aims to evaluate the metabolic characteristics of patients with urolithiasis based on kidney stone composition. Data were collected from patients treated for kidney stones between January 2010 and December 2024 at a tertiary urology center. Stone analysis was performed using FTIR spectroscopy, classifying stones into subtypes including calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM), calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD), uric acid, and mixed types. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, creatinine, and parathyroid hormone (PTH), along with 24-hour urine values (calcium, oxalate, citrate, uric acid, volume, and pH), were recorded. The study primarily compares metabolic differences between: First-time vs. recurrent stone formers COM vs. COD stone subtypes Findings from this study are expected to improve understanding of metabolic risk factors and contribute to the development of tailored metabolic evaluations and dietary or pharmacological preventive strategies for recurrent stone formers.

Conditions

Interventions