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Treatment of patients with uric acid stones

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Abstract

Uric acid nephrolithiasis and unduly acidic urinary pH are both considered a renal manifestation of insulin resistance but the underlying mechanisms for the development of low urinary pH and the propensity for uric acid stone formation are not completely elucidated. Nevertheless, excessive dietary acid intake, increased endogenous acid production and/or defective NH4+ excretion play an important role, among other factors. The main principles of therapy for uric acid nephrolithiasis are aimed at urinary alkalinization through diet modification or pharmacologic agents, increase of urinary volume, and less importantly at the reduction of uric acid excretion.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (CNPq) Grant 305638/2012-2.

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  1. Nephrology Division, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Botucatu 740, Vila Clementino, CEP 04023-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Ita Pfeferman Heilberg

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Correspondence to Ita Pfeferman Heilberg.

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Heilberg, I.P. Treatment of patients with uric acid stones. Urolithiasis 44, 57–63 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-015-0843-8

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