Mineralogical, compositional and isotope characterization of human kidney stones (urolithiasis) in a Sri Lankan population

Abstract

In order to understand the processes of stone formation, compositional, spectroscopic, mineralogical and crystallographic characteristics of human urinary stones collected from patients in Sri Lanka were investigated in detail. The data showed that the majority of urinary calculi were calcium oxalate, either whewellite or weddellite. Other solid phases of stones were composed of struvite, uricite and hydroxylapatite. However, mixed compositions were common except for whewellite stones which occur frequently in pure form. Scanning electron microscope observations and associated energy-dispersive X-ray analyses revealed that whewellite or weddellite was well crystalized compared to other stones types, while phosphate stones were mostly cryptocrystalline. The average δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O of stones were - 32.2‰ (- 37.3 to - 17.4‰) and - 24.2‰ (- 26.7‰ to - 8.9‰), respectively. The δ¹³C values were highly depleted compared to North American and European urinary stones. This may be due to food habits of Asians who consume rice as the staple food.

Keywords: Calcium oxalate monohydrate; Carbon isotopes; FTIR; Hydroxylapatite; Trace elements; Urinary stones.