Kidney Stones - Risk Factors

High Blood Pressure. Hypertensive people are up to three times more likely to develop kidney stones. It is not entirely clear whether having high blood pressure increases the risk for a stone, whether stones lead to hypertension, or if there is a mechanism common to both. Some experts suggest that imbalances between uric acid levels in the blood and urine and sodium excretion may put hypertensive patients at higher risk.

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Bowel Diseases and Surgeries that Correct Them. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (known as inflammatory bowel diseases) cause problems in intestinal absorption that significantly increase the risk for kidney stones. Men with these conditions may be at higher risk for stones than women are.

Surgeries that remove parts of the small intestine to correct bowel conditions pose a particular risk for short bowel syndrome. This is a major risk factor for both calcium oxalate and uric acid stones in these patients. People with Crohn's disease or intestinal infections and children with structural abnormalities in the small intestine are at risk for surgical procedures and short bowel syndrome.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). Struvite stones are almost always caused by urinary tract infections.

Hyperparathyroidism. Some people with hyperparathyroidism develop kidney stones. Surgery to remove the parathyroid gland in such patients reduces the risk for stone formation, but it still remains high for some time after surgery.

Other Medical Conditions. Many other medical conditions, including but not limited to kidney disease, chronic diarrhea, certain cancers (e.g., leukemia and lymphomas), and sarcoidosis, put people at higher risk for stones.

Medications

Medications for AIDS. AIDS patients are at high risk for stones, mainly because of medications. Over 10% of AIDS patients who take indinavir develop stones, and the risk is even higher in AIDS patients who have hepatitis B or C or hemophilia, who are very thin, or who are receiving the antibiotic combination TMP-SMX. In one study of AIDS patients taking a combination of indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine, 36% developed kidney stones.

Other Drugs. Many drugs, including thyroid hormones and loop diuretics (drugs that increase urination), can increase calcium concentration in urine. Stones are an uncommon side effect of these medications, however. And, in fact, diuretics are also used to prevent calcium stones. Certain cancer chemotherapies can cause kidney stones. Taking medications for long periods that change the acidic content of urine, such as antacids, may increase susceptibility for kidney stones.