Formation and stability of calcium oxalates, the main crystalline phases of kidney stones

Abstract

Wide spread of oxalate mineralization in living organisms is a strong reason for its intense worldwide study during recent decades. Calcium oxalates can be found in human body (stones of urinary system, calcifications in lungs, crystals in a bone marrow etc.) (Socol et al. 2003; Zuzuk2005; Korago1992), in body of animals (stones of cats urinary system), and in plants (Korago 1992). Most often calcium oxalates occur as a part of pathogenic formations of the human urinary system (Korago 1992). The part of oxalate kidney stones ranges from50%to 75%depending of the geographical region. Our collection of kidney stones that were removed in Saint-Petersburg hospitals includes 263 samples, 81% of which consists of calcium oxalate minerals fully or as a part.