What Are Cystine Kidney Stones?

Cystine kidney stones are the rarest type of kidney stone and are more likely to form in people who have cystinuria, a hereditary metabolic disorder.

Causes

• Cystine kidney stones are formed when the kidneys produce an abnormal amount of cystine, an amino acid. The cystine can build up over time and form a hard mass.

Diagnosis

• A laboratory analysis of the passed kidney stone is needed to determine its composition.

Treatment

• If kidney stones continue to form, a physician may prescribe medicine that decreases the amount of cystine present in the patient's urine.

Prevention

• According to the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, people with cystine kidney stones are encouraged to increase their daily fluid intake in an effort to flush out excess cystine.

Risks

• According to Health NewsFlash, people who have been diagnosed with renal tubular acidosis are 70 percent more likely than others to develop kidney stones.