Formation of stony calculi which may deposit along the entire urogenital tract from the renal pelvis to the urethra
Calcium stones (80%)
Struvite Stones (15%)
Uric acid stones (6%)
Cystine stones (2%)
Epidemiology
The lifetime risk 1 in 10 for Australian men and 1 in 35 for women.
Peak incidence is between 45-70 years
Aetiology
Elevated levels of urinary solutes, such as calcium, uric acid, oxalate, and sodium, as well as decreased levels of stone inhibitors, such as citrate and magnesium.
Low urinary volume and abnormally low or high urinary pH also contribute to this process.
All of these can lead to urine supersaturation with stone-forming salts and subsequent stone formation