Urolithiasis

Abstract

Stone disease is a common and costly health problem, and its prevalence in on the rise. In the United States between 2007 and 2010, the overall prevalence was reported to be 8.8 % [ 1 ]. This increase is likely due to similar trends in the obesity epidemic [ 1 - 4 ] and associated conditions like the metabolic syndrome [ 5, 6 ]. There are numerous other risk factors associated with metabolic stone formation, and these include genetic causes (gout, primary hyperoxaluria, cystinuria), gastrointestinal related (infl ammatory bowel disease, previous bowel resection), and medication use (topiramate and tenofovir). Despite these risk factors, stone formation and recurrence can often be prevented with simple dietary and lifestyle modifi cations such as adequate hydration and low salt and low animal protein intake.