December 2012: Volume 38, Number 12 Biochemical Evaluation of
Risk Factors By Vinita Mishra, MBBS, MD, MPhil, FRCPath and Kee
Wong, MBChB, MRCS The incidence of kidney stones, an extremely
painful urologic disorder associated with significant morbidity,
has been increasing in the U.S. during the past 30 years. Today,
up to 12% of men and 5% of women will develop at least one
kidney stone by age 70. Recurrence rates are estimated to be as
high as 50%, giving credence to the old adage “once a stone
former, always a stone former.” Furthermore, the disease creates
a large economic burden on the U.S. healthcare system, with a
total estimated cost of $5.3 billion annually. Kidney stones can
form when urine contains too much of certain substances. These
substances create small crystals that may go on to form stones
over the course of weeks or months. Laboratory evaluation of
kidney stones not only helps in identifying the constituents of
the stone, but also in determining the underlying cause of stone
formation, kno