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What Are the Causes of Urinary Calculi?

According to the Merck Medical Manual, urinary calculi are more common in men than in women, occurring in approximately 12 percent of men before the age of 70 years. Urinary calculi develop from a range of causes, usually issues relating to the mineral composition of your urine.

  1. The Facts

    • Urinary calculi, also called urolithiasis, occur when mineral salts develop into a solid mass in your urinary tract. Most urinary calculi are composed primarily of calcium, usually calcium oxalate.

    Calcium-related Causes

    • The main cause of calcium-related urinary calculi is hypercalciuria, a hereditary condition characterized by the presence of excessive amounts of calcium in your urine. According to the Merck Medical Manual, one out of two men and three out of four women with calcium calculi have hypocalciuria.

    Other Causes

    • Other causes of urinary calculi include low levels of citric acid in your urine (hypocitruria) and renal tubular acidosis (an inability of your body to filter acids from your bloodstream).

    Considerations

    • The Merck Medical Manual states that struvite urinary calculi, which develop in about 3 percent of calculi sufferers, typically occur as a result of a urinary tract infection.

    Significance

    • Understanding the various causes of urinary calculi highlights the importance of learning what type of mineral imbalance caused your urinary calculi so you and your doctor can develop the treatment and prevention plan that works best for your health situation.

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