Hyperoxaluria And Oxalosis

Hyperoxaluria and oxalosis
Hyperoxaluria occurs when you have too much oxalate in your urine. Oxalate is a natural chemical in your body, and it's also found in certain types of food. But too much oxalate in your urine can cause serious problems.Hyperoxaluria can be caused by inherited (genetic) disorders, an intestinal disease or eating too many oxalate-rich foods. Quick diagnosis and treatment of hyperoxaluria is important to the long-term health of your kidneys.Oxalosis happens after the kidneys fail in people who have primary and intestinal causes of hyperoxaluria, and excess oxalate builds up in the blood. This can lead to oxalate deposits in blood vessels, bones and body organs.



   

Disease Symptoms
Commonly, kidney stones are the first sign of hyperoxaluria. Kidney stones are uncommon in childhood. Kidney stones that form in children and teenagers are likely to be caused by an underlying condition, such as hyperoxaluria. For this reason, all young people with kidney stones should have a thorough evaluation, including measurement of oxalate in the urine. Adults with recurrent kidney stones also should be evaluated for oxalate in the urine.Symptoms of a kidney stone can include the following:Severe or sudden abdominal or flank pain,Blood in the urine,Frequent urge to urinate,Pain when urinating,Fever and chills.Primary hyperoxaluria (PH) that goes untreated can eventually damage your kidneys. Over time your kidneys may stop working. For some people, this is the first sign of the disease

Disease Treatment
Treatment will depend on the type, symptoms and severity of hyperoxaluria and how well you respond to treatment.Medications. Prescription doses of vitamin B-6 can be effective in reducing oxalate in the urine in some people with primary hyperoxaluria. Oral preparations of phosphates and citrate help prevent the formation of calcium oxalate crystals. Other medications, such as thiazide diuretics, also may be considered, depending on which other abnormalities are present in your urine.High fluid intake. If your kidneys are still functioning normally, your doctor will likely tell you to drink more water or other fluids. This flushes the kidneys, prevents oxalate crystal buildup and helps keep kidney stones from forming.Dietary changes. The effectiveness of diet will depend on the cause of increased levels of oxalate. Diet may include restricting foods high in oxalates, limiting salt, and decreasing animal protein and sugar (high fructose corn syrup). This may help to lower urinary oxalate in people with enteric hyperoxaluria or excess dietary intake. Dietary restrictions may not be as important for all people with primary hyperoxaluria. Follow the advice of your doctor.

Statistics
From 1976–2009, 84 kidney alone (K) and combined kidney and liver (K+L) transplants were performed in 58 patients. Among 58 first kidney transplants (32 K, 26 K+L), 1, 3, and 5 year kidney graft survival was 82%, 68%, and 49%. Renal graft loss occurred in 26 first transplants due to oxalosis in 10, chronic allograft nephropathy in 6, rejection in 5, and other causes in 5. Delay in PH diagnosis until after transplant favored early graft loss (p=0.07). K+L had better kidney graft outcomes than K with death censored graft survival 95% vs. 56% at 3yrs (p=.011). Among 29 year 2000–09 first transplants (24 K+L), 84% were functioning at 3 years compared to 55% of earlier transplants (p=0.05). At 6.8 years after transplantation, 46 of 58 patients are living (43 with functioning grafts).

Disease Symptoms
Commonly, kidney stones are the first sign of hyperoxaluria. Kidney stones are uncommon in childhood. Kidney stones that form in children and teenagers are likely to be caused by an underlying condition, such as hyperoxaluria. For this reason, all young people with kidney stones should have a thorough evaluation, including measurement of oxalate in the urine. Adults with recurrent kidney stones also should be evaluated for oxalate in the urine.Symptoms of a kidney stone can include the following:Severe or sudden abdominal or flank pain,Blood in the urine,Frequent urge to urinate,Pain when urinating,Fever and chills.Primary hyperoxaluria (PH) that goes untreated can eventually damage your kidneys. Over time your kidneys may stop working. For some people, this is the first sign of the disease.