Calcium oxalate stones are one of the main kinds of kidney stones. They may not cause any symptoms. On the other hand, they can cause pain in the back and side, vomiting and even blood in the urine. Medication is available to combat calcium oxalate stones, but some people may need to have surgery to remove them.
Calcium Oxalate Stones
Of the four types of kidney stones, approximately 80 percent are composed of calcium phosphate or calcium oxalate, and an estimated 50 percent of the people who have calcium oxalate kidney stones may have these stones form again within five to 10 years, according to Elaine Worcester, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, writing in the medical journal "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Nephrology & Hypertension." The other types of kidney stones are called struvite stones, cystine stones and uric acid stones.
Risk Factors
Calcium oxalate stones form primarily as a result of having a high level of calcium in the urine, a medical condition referred to as hypercalciuria. For approximately 75 percent of the women and 50 percent of the men who have calcium oxalate stones, hypercalciuria is hereditary, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. An abnormally low level of citrate in the urine is another risk factor for this type of stone because citrate attaches to the calcium within the urine. Thus, if your urine contains not enough citrate, it will contain too much calcium.
Symptoms
People with calcium oxalate stone disease, or any kidney stone for that matter, may not have any symptoms unless the stones cannot pass through the kidney or ureter tube that goes from the kidney to the bladder. Any pain can start all of a sudden and can even wake someone up from their sleep. The pain can become severe, and some people may have to vomit.
Treatment
Some people may need to take pain medication of one type or another. Other medications may be prescribed to help the calcium oxalate stones and all types of kidney stones pass. Some patients may need surgery if the kidney stone is causing damage to the kidney, is growing larger or is already too big to pass on its own, or if it causes infections or interferes with urination. The type of surgery that is required depends upon the size of the stone and its location.
References
- "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Nephrology & Hypertension"; Edgar Lerma, M.D., Jeffrey Berns, M.D., Allen Nissenson, M.D.; 2009
- "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2011"; Stephen McPhee, M.D., Maxine Papadakis, M.D.; 2011
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Urinary Calculi
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Kidney stones --- Treatment
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