According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, approximately half a million emergency room visits are attributed to kidney stones each year. Kidney stones are small, hard deposits that form in the kidneys by crystals that separate in the urine. It may produce no symptoms at all or produce severe pain as it passes through the urinary tract. A kidney stone analysis is a useful tool in treating and preventing kidney stones.
Why It's Done
There are several important reasons for analyzing kidney stones. First, not all kidney stones are alike. Kidney stones can be composed of several different compounds, and thus analysis helps determine the exact chemical makeup of the kidney stones. Knowing the chemical makeup guides doctors in selecting the correct treatment, generally a combination of lifestyle changes and medications. Knowledge of the type of kidney stone is also important in preventing the development of future kidney stones, according to Cigna.
Procedure
Collecting the kidney stone is the first step to analysis and is accomplished via surgical removal or, more commonly, by allowing the stone to pass through the urine. In the latter, the kidney stone is strained from the urine by a mesh filter and appears as a small grain of salt or piece of gravel, according to Cigna. Once collected, the kidney stone should be kept dry and free from contaminants by placing it in a vial or plastic bag. At the doctor's office or laboratory, the kidney stone is cleaned of any blood or tissue and analyzed by a professional to determine the chemical makeup of the kidney stone.
Results
There are primarily four types of kidney stones named for the most predominate chemical---calcium, struvite, uric acid or cystine. Calcium-based kidney stones are the most common, accounting for 80 percent of all kidney stones, according to the Mayo Clinic. Struvite stones are composed of magnesium and the waste product ammonia and account for 10 to 15 percent of all kidney stones. If the urine contains too much acid, uric acid kidney stones may develop, which account for 5 to 10 percent of all kidney stones. The rarest type of kidney stones, comprising less than 1 percent, are composed of cystine, an amino acid used as a building block for certain body parts, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Dietary Prevention
Several dietary changes can prevent or significantly reduce the recurrence of kidney stones. Increasing water intake by drinking more water throughout the day can help prevent kidney stones of all types. Eating a diet low in salt and animal protein also reduces the chance of developing kidney stones, according to the Mayo Clinic. Reducing intake of oxalate-rich foods, such as rhubarb, beets, okra and spinach, is helpful in preventing calcium oxalate based kidney stones. Individuals taking calcium supplements may need to see a doctor.
Medication Prevention
Prescription medications can help prevent kidney stones from developing by altering the acidity of urine. Individuals prone to developing calcium-based kidney stones may be prescribed thiazide diuretics. Reducing the levels of acid in the blood and urine with drugs can help prevent uric acid kidney stones while certain antibiotics to keep the urine free of bacteria are helpful for struvite stones. Cystine kidney stones are harder to treat, but medications to decrease acid levels, bind cystine and increase urine output are helpful in preventing development, according to the Mayo Clinic.
