[Hereditary diseases causing kidney calculi]

Abstract

Urolithiasis and/or nephrocalcinosis due to hereditary diseases are a rare event which must be kept in mind of physicians who take care of children (10 to 40% of all causes of lithiases) as well as of adults (less than 15% of all causes of lithiases) since a specific management is usually required. The most frequent inborn disorders are idiopathic hypercalciuria, distal tubular acidosis, cystinuria and hyperoxaluria. Stone formation is always secondary to an increased urine concentration of promotors, i.e. calcium, oxalate, phosphate, cystine, xanthine. One of the most informative diagnosis investigation is infrared spectrophotometry which can identify stone composition. When such a technique is not available, biochemical investigations should be adapted to both personal and family history. In addition to high fluid intake (2 to 3 L/m2/24 h) sometimes associated with alcalinisation, the management of hereditary stone disease requires specific procedure. In all cases, the long-term renal prognosis is related to both primary disease and therapeutic compliance.