Kidney stones in children - why don't they form until later in life?
By not4me
@not4me (1711)
United States
February 28, 2007 2:04pm CST
In families where a genetic kidney stone causing illness is present, why is it that children don't develop kidney stones until they are in their late teens even if the entire family is eating the same diet? I'm specifically talking about cystine stones/cystinuria (genetic disease that runs in my family) but any type of stone will do for this question.
I already know pretty much everything else there's to know about stones, what with my 100s of passed stones and 4 surgeries in 2005. I'm curious specifically about why children born predisposed to these genetic conditions don't fall ill right away. Thanks.
1 response
@Methodless (882)
• Canada
28 Feb 07
I thought it was because the stones are calcium deposits that take time to build up before they start causing blockages and/or other problems.
Am I wrong about that?
1 person likes this
@not4me (1711)
• United States
28 Feb 07
Calcium stones are only one type - there are tons of others although calcium is usually the issue with most stone havers. Cystine stones for instance are caused by the kidney's inability to process the large amounts of cystine made by someone with cystinuria. There is no calcium found in our stones when taken to the pathology lab.
"Cystine (SIS-teen) stones are rare. Cystine is one of the building blocks that make up muscles, nerves, and other parts of the body. Cystine can build up in the urine to form a stone. The disease that causes cystine stones runs in families." - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stones_ez/ this is a good site with more info if you are interested. Thanks for commenting.
