Kidney stones are the formation of a solid, stone-like object when the liquid component of urine separates from some of its other chemicals. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) kidney stones can be formed from a variety of chemicals in the body, including calcium, phosphate, oxalate or cystine. Cystine stones are a rare type of kidney stone.
Incidence
According to Cigna health care and the National Institutes of Health, cystine stones, formed from too much amino acid called cystine, make up between 1 to 3 percent of all kinds of kidney stones. Those who suffer from cystine stones are likely to also suffer from a genetic condition called cystinuria. Cystinuria occurs when the body doesn't process cystine properly and the chemical builds up in urine. The cystine crystallizes instead of being excreted, and forms a mass called a cystine stone. Cystinuria, like cystine kidney stones, is a rare condition, affecting only one of out 10,000 people, according to the NIH.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a cystine kidney stone are the same as other types of urinary tract stones. Small stones that pass on their own may not cause any symptoms at all, according to the NKUDIC. Larger stones can cause you to have back and stomach cramps, and possibly nausea and vomiting. The pain may progress to your side and groin area if the stone is in the process of passing out of your body. Burning upon urination and blood in the urine can also be signs that you are suffering from a kidney stone.
Lifestyle-Based Treatment
Small cystine stones that do not cause major pain that requires surgical removal can be treated through lifestyle modifications. Drinking at least eight glasses of water daily--as much as a gallon each day in some cases, according to NKUDIC, can help you produce more urine, which can dilute the urine, allowing the stone to dissolve and pass. The National Institutes of Health's Medline Plus service suggests that following a low-salt diet can be beneficial to people with cystinuria.
Medical-Based Treatment
Medications can help your body regulate the amount of cystine that becomes concentrated in the urine. According to Cigna, two categories of drugs are used to treat cystine stones: those that keep the amino acid from forming crystals; and those that regulate the acidity of urine so stones won't be able to form. Stones that do not respond to medication may require surgical removal or a treatment called ESWL. ESWL, or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, breaks up the stones into smaller pieces, making them easier to pass.
Prevention
According to the International Cystinuria Foundation, the prevention of cystine kidney stones involves solving the problem of the ratio between solvents and solute. The solvent in this case is urine, the liquid in which the solute, the cystine, needs to dissolve to prevent a stone. Increasing the amount of urine you put out to widen the gap between the solvent and solute, is a must. Drinking plenty of fluids can not only treat but also prevent stones, but you'll need to be careful about what you drink, according to the ICF. Diuretic beverages such as caffeinated and alcoholic drinks can be beneficial because they increase urination, but can also contribute to dehydration. Drink some of both to keep your body hydrated. Limiting your consumption of fish, a protein source that contains an amino acid called methionine may also lower your urinary cystine levels.
