Metabolic and Clinical Characteristics of Children with Urolithiasis from Southern India.

OBJECTIVE

To study the etiological profile and patterns of clinical presentations of urolithiasis (UL) in children.

METHODS

This observational study included patients <18 y with UL, who were referred to the pediatric nephrology clinic. Clinical features, family history, consanguinity and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at presentation and follow-up were recorded. The children were evaluated using relevant blood and urine investigations.

RESULTS

A total of 72 children with UL were evaluated for the study. The etiology of UL (n = 72) included hyperoxaluria (n = 25; 34.7%), idiopathic hypercalciuria (n = 21; 29.2%), idiopathic hyperuricosuria (n = 3; 4.2%), cystinuria (n = 3; 4.2%), urate transporter defect (n = 2; 2.8%) and mixed stones (predominant component calcium oxalate) (n = 9; 12.5%). No etiology was detected in 4 cases (5.5%). Common presenting complaints included flank pain (n = 41; 56.7%), hematuria (n = 29; 40.3%), urinary tract infection (UTI) (n = 29; 40.3%) and vomiting (n = 11; 15.3%). The median age of presentation was 60 (36, 96) mo. Family history and consanguinity were present in 30 cases (41.7%) and 28 cases (38.9%) respectively. Stone analysis was done in 20 cases, of which 9 cases were mixed stones (predominant calcium oxalate) and 6 were calcium oxalate stones.

CONCLUSIONS

Among children with urolithiasis, hyperoxaluria, idiopathic hypercalciuria, idiopathic hyperuricosuria, and cystinuria were the predominant identifiable entities, together accounting for 72% of cases; and renal colic, hematuria and UTI were the commonest clinical complaints.