Urinary diathesis

Urolithiasis cannot be identified as a separate disease.

It can be characterized as a borderline condition, which can subsequently provoke the development of a number of diseases: gout, urolithiasis, and so on.

Epidemiology

In men, this disease progresses after forty, in women – after menopause.

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Causes urolithiasis

The causes of urolithiasis can be different.

• Hereditary predisposition.
• Improper diet. Abuse of such products as chocolate, meat and meat by-products, marinades, salted and smoked dishes, rich broths, cocoa.
• Overweight.
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• The water is too hard.
• Diseases of the endocrine system.
• Condition after chemotherapy due to cancer.
• Autoimmune diseases.
• Kidney dysfunction.
• Alcohol abuse, chronic alcoholism.
• Injury.
• Organ transplantation.
• Hypothermia.
• Long-term use of a number of pharmacological drugs.

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Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of urolithiasis consists of a violation of purine (protein) metabolism, which results in increased formation of uric acid.

The source of uric acid is a number of food products and compounds produced by the body itself. If there is an excess of such a product, the body stops coping with its breakdown and removal from the body, the outflow of urine slows down, which leads to the crystallization of these salts and the formation of sand and stones. At the same time, the structure of urine itself changes its chemical composition, its acidity increases, which can be observed during laboratory tests.

The increase in uric acid levels leads to precipitation in the urine in the form of colloidal flakes, urates and crystalline neoplasms of uric acid. The same crystals begin to settle in the joint tissues, as well as the urinary organs, forming sand and stones.

Symptoms urolithiasis

Symptoms of urolithiasis are as follows:

• The appearance of cutting pains in the lower abdomen.
• Pain in the lumbar-sacral region.
• Frequent and painful urge to urinate.
• Excretion of urates in urine.
• The appearance of traces of blood in the urine.
• Nausea causing periodic urge to vomit.
• Decreased appetite.
• Gradual weight loss.
• Sleep disturbance.
• Colic in the kidney area is possible.
• General weakness of the body.
• Increased excitability, irritability. Emotional instability.
• Thirst may occur.
• Tachycardia.
• An increase in body temperature is possible.
• In particularly severe forms of the pathology, convulsive syndrome and meningeal symptoms (signs of irritation of the meninges) may develop.

First signs

From the moment when the renal apparatus begins to function at its limit, a person begins to feel the first signs of the disease.

1. Urination becomes painful and frequent.
2. An unpleasant, pulling, painful sensation appears in the lower abdomen.
3. In the urine you can see cloudy flakes, sometimes blood inclusions.

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Complications and consequences

The main consequences of urolithiasis are inflammation of the tissues of the excretory system organs and joints - places where urates are predominantly deposited.

Complications of urolithiasis can lead to the development of such diseases:

• An inflammatory process affecting the organs of the excretory system and the musculoskeletal system.
• Formation of sand and stones in the kidneys (urolithiasis).
• Various enzymopathies.
• Urate nephropathy.
• Development of atherosclerosis.
• Hyperuricosuria.
• Metabolic disorders.
• Interstitial nephritis.
• Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
• Gout.
• Neuralgia and migraine.
• Endocrine pathologies (diabetes, obesity).
• Arthritis. Uric acid salts can accumulate in both subcutaneous and connective tissue layers. When hardened, they become painful. Their size can range from one millimeter to several centimeters.

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Diagnostics urolithiasis

Diagnosis of urolithiasis consists of a number of studies:

1. Survey of patient complaints.
2. Examination of the patient.
3. Laboratory tests:

• Urine test.
• Blood test.
  • Ultrasound examination of the kidneys and bladder.
  • If necessary, an X-ray examination may be prescribed.
  • If necessary, consult other specialists.
  • Differential diagnostics.

A timely volume of necessary research allows a specialist to confirm or refute the presence of the disease in question in the patient’s body.

Tests

If urolithiasis is suspected, laboratory tests are also prescribed.

• Urine test that can reveal:
• Uric acid levels that are higher than normal.
• Sediment in the form of uric acid crystals.
• Increased pH acidity of urine.
• Increased formation of oxalates together with urates.
• Blood test:
  • Complete blood count, left shift in white blood cell count, leukocytosis, increased ESR, C-reactive protein.
  • Blood biochemistry allows us to determine the level of urea, nitrogen and creatinine – elevated levels of these parameters are indirect indicators of the presence of uric acid diathesis in the body.

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Instrumental diagnostics

Instrumental diagnostics that allow diagnosing urolithiasis:

1. Ultrasound examination. Even at the early stages of pathological development, an experienced ultrasound specialist is able to recognize the appearance of sand or small stones in the kidneys, urinary tract or subcutaneous fat.
2. If necessary, an X-ray method can be prescribed. Allows to specify the localization of the pathology. Stones less than 3 mm can be recognized.
3. If the disease is already complicated by various complications, then other, additional research methods may be prescribed.

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics are carried out with such diseases as gout, urolithiasis, cystitis, nephritis, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis.

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Treatment urolithiasis

Treatment of urolithiasis is divided into two main stages. First of all, symptomatic treatment aimed at alleviating acute symptoms. The second stage is pathogenetic treatment.

Diet adjustments are also necessary. It is necessary to exclude or reduce the consumption of the following products:

The proportion of animal-based foods should be reduced:

• Meat.
• Offal.
• Smoked meats.
• Pickled.
• Sausage and frankfurter products.
• Remove rich broths from your diet.
• Canned fish and meat.
• Reduce the amount of canned vegetables consumed.
• Limit your consumption of dairy products.
• Give up chocolate, cocoa and coffee.
• Exclude from diet:
  • Spinach, rhubarb, sorrel, legumes.
  • Semi-finished products of industrial production. They usually have a high content of sodium chloride.
  • Tomatoes and figs.
  • Sauces.
• The amount of liquid drunk per day should be at least two liters. If the patient's profession or lifestyle is associated with intense loads, as well as during hot periods, the volume of liquid consumed should be increased.
• During an attack, a salt-free diet is practiced.

To maintain normal functioning of metabolic processes, such patients are prescribed an increase in the volume of daily fluid, and saline solutions are administered (regidron, hydrovit, disol, and others).

Cleansing enemas are administered, enterosorbents are prescribed. The most effective of them are enterosgel, polysorb, laktrofiltrum, atoxil, activated carbon.

In case of pain symptoms, antispasmodics and pain-relieving medications are prescribed: no-shpa, no-shpalgin, nova T, novagra, novalgin, novaclav.

Heat is prescribed, applied to the lumbar region. This can be a woolen scarf, a hot water bottle, or taking a medicinal bath. But such procedures should be carried out very carefully, especially if the patient has a history of cardiovascular diseases.

In order to speed up the dissolution of salt conglomerates, such medications as phytolyson, kanefron N, urolesan, cyston, and rivatinex are prescribed.

Anti-inflammatory drugs are required: hexicon, betadine, polygynax, mycogynax, terzhinan.

Uroseptics may be prescribed. But it is worth remembering that if the patient has a history of large stones, then diuretics are not prescribed, since if the stone moves from its place, there is a high probability of blockage of the urinary tract with the development of acute symptoms of renal colic.

Antibiotics may be prescribed: penicillins, kanamycin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, tetracyclines and others.

All medications should be prescribed only by a qualified specialist.

In severe clinical presentations and advanced cases of the disease, the attending physician may suggest surgical treatment.

Medicines

To normalize metabolic processes, correct acidosis and restore water and electrolyte balance, the following medications may be prescribed: neogemodez, rehydron, acesol, quintasol, hydrovit, reosorbilact, disol, Hartman's solution and others.

Regidron is available in powder form. Before use, one packet of the medicine should be dissolved by mixing well in one liter of boiled water at room temperature. The prepared solution should be stored for no more than a day and at a temperature of 2 °C to 8 °C.

The solution is taken orally, in small portions. If the patient takes this solution, this volume should be subtracted from the daily fluid intake, which is calculated strictly individually in each specific case.

Contraindications for rehydron include kidney dysfunction (moderate and severe), diabetes, loss of consciousness, intestinal obstruction, as well as increased individual sensitivity to the components of the pharmacological agent.

Enterosorbents are also prescribed: enterosgel, lignosorb, polysorb, diosmectite, smecta, lactofiltrum, entegnin, enterodesis, atoxil, carbosorb, polyphepan, activated carbon.

Enterosgel is available in the form of a gel, which is taken orally one to two hours before or after meals. The recommended dosage is one tablespoon three times a day with a small amount of water. The average duration of treatment is five days.

Contraindications to the use of Enterosgel include individual intolerance to one or more components of the drug, as well as intestinal obstruction.

Medicines that break down salt conglomerates: phytolyson, canephron N, urolesan, cyston, rivatinex.

The combined herbal preparation Fitolizon is prescribed one teaspoon three to four times a day. Immediately before taking, the required amount of the medicine should be diluted in 100 ml of warm water. For greater effectiveness, the medicine should be taken after meals. The duration of treatment is from two to six weeks. If necessary, after a break, the course of therapy can be repeated.

Contraindications to phytolysin include increased individual intolerance to one or more components of the drug, as well as if the patient has a history of acute nephritis, cardiac or renal dysfunction.

When pain attacks occur, the patient is prescribed antispasmodics, pain-relieving drugs: spazmonet, no-shpa, spakovin, vero-drotaverine, no-shpalgin, Nosh-bra, nova T, spazmol, novagra, novalgin, novaclav.

The strong antispasmodic no-shpa, depending on the nature and intensity of pain, can be prescribed in a dosage of 0.12 - 0.24 g, which corresponds to three to six tablets divided into several doses. No more than 80 mg of the active substance drotaverine can be taken at one time.

No-shpa is not allowed for use if the patient has an individual intolerance to one or more components of the drug, as well as in case of cardiac, hepatic or renal dysfunction.

Folk remedies

Folk treatment of urolithiasis shows quite good results, but only if the treatment is carried out at the early stages of the disease. It can be used as an auxiliary method at later stages of the disease.

Almost all recipes used in the treatment of uric acid diathesis use medicinal herbs that are effective in stopping the inflammatory process, are able to fight infectious tissue damage, have diuretic properties, and improve the removal of uric acids and sand from the excretory system. In some cases, folk remedies can help break up small stones.

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Herbal treatment

Herbal treatment can bring quite tangible help in solving the problem of urolithiasis. Here are some effective recipes based on medicinal herbs:

Recipe #1

1. You will need five to six grape leaves (cultivated, not wild). Wash the raw material thoroughly and remove the stalks.
2. Take a glass jar and place the grape raw material at the bottom. Add 175 ml of just boiled water on top.
3. Place in a water bath and keep on the fire for five to seven minutes.
4. Set the infusion aside and wait until it cools to room temperature and strain.
5. The most expected result is obtained by taking a decoction of half the received dosage, immediately after meals three times a day.

Recipe #2

1. Prepare a collection, taking: stinging nettle - one share, centaury - two shares, yarrow - two shares. Mix the ingredients well.
2. Pour cold boiled or purified water over them. Put on the stove and leave for ten minutes from the moment of boiling.
3. Set aside on the side and let it sit for 12 hours.
4. Squeeze the mixture. The medicine is ready. You can take it.

Recipe #3

1. We prepare a herbal mixture, which consists of centaury - three parts, corn silk - three parts, knotweed herb - two parts, celandine - three parts, barberry leaves - two parts.
2. Add the herbal mixture to cold boiled or purified water and place the container on the fire.
3. Boil for about 15 minutes. Leave to cool, then strain.
4. Consume throughout the day in small portions before meals.

Recipe #4

1. You will need a tablespoon of dried blackcurrants, which should be poured into a thermos. Pour a glass of boiling water there.
2. Seal the thermos and leave it to infuse for a couple of hours.
3. Strain the liquid and squeeze out the pulp.
4. Taking this medicine does not depend on meal time. It should be taken two to three times a day.

Recipe #5

1. We prepare a herbal composition, which consists of violet grass - one share, nettle leaves - two shares, cherry stalks - one share, arnica flowers - two shares.
2. Mix these ingredients thoroughly and combine with just boiled water.
3. Leave it to brew for a while and cool. Strain the mixture, squeezing out the pulp.
4. Drink throughout the day in small portions before meals.

Homeopathy

In case of urolithiasis, homeopathy can offer the following preparations:

Aloe Vera concentrate with cranberry, which is taken 30-40 drops three times a day, after diluting it with 50 ml of water. It is recommended to drink the preparation between meals.

The Strong Enzyme Complex "Evalar" is taken one tablet twice a day during meals. The duration of treatment is one to one and a half months.

Vitavin is prescribed orally, one capsule twice a day.

Magnum A is taken one gummy once a day.

Can also be prescribed: benzoicum acidum, bryonia, camphor, belladonna, lachesis, calcarea carbonica, aloe, causticum, asparagus, nitricum acidum oxalicum acidum, phosphoricum acidum, arnica, cinchona, equisetum, cantharis, berberis, calcarea phosphoricum, dioscorea, coccus cacti, lycopodium and many others.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment may be prescribed in severe cases of urolithiasis, when therapeutic measures are no longer effective.

Modern medicine uses the method of crushing stones (for example, lithotripsy). But as practice shows, even after the removal of formations, their re-formation is possible.

To avoid taking radical measures, it is necessary to treat the disease at an early stage.

Prevention

Prevention of this disease can be outlined in several points:

1. Limit your diet to foods that have a high content of oxalic acid.
2. It is necessary to promptly contact a specialist with a suspicion of any disorder of the urinary system and treat it until complete recovery.
3. Lead a healthy lifestyle (quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption).
4. Avoid physical inactivity and hypothermia.
5. Regular, at least once a year, preventive examination by the main specialists, including a urologist.

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Forecast

It all depends on how early the patient sought help from the attending physician and how soon the treatment was carried out. In general, the prognosis for urolithiasis is favorable.

Modern life is filled with many culinary temptations and people sometimes do not even think about what and in what quantities they eat. Therefore, urolithiasis is the scourge of modern people. To one degree or another, it is present in almost all residents over forty, but, sadly, young people are catching up with this statistics. Therefore, before it is too late, review your diet. It is enough to slightly adjust it to significantly reduce the likelihood of developing pathology.

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