Kidney stones dissolve and grow like rocks, study finds

Kidney stones are a health problem that causes extreme discomfort to the patient. The pain condition is not easily treatable and sometimes requires surgery to remove stones. Despite being so common in the general population, the nature and composition of kidney stones are largely unknown. A final study, however, presents a much clearer picture of the internal growth of kidney stones. It reveals that kidney stones are calcium-based and that these calcium-rich layers resemble other mineralizations in nature, such as those found in coral reefs and hot springs. More importantly, kidney systems can dissolve and grow as they form. The results contradict the widely held view that kidney stones are different from other rocks in nature and remain the same throughout their geologic history.

"Contrary to what doctors learn in their medical training, we found that kidney stones were undergoing a dynamic process of growth, dissolution, growth and dissolution," says lead researcher and professor of geology and microbiology. University of Illinois. we may be able to intervene to completely dissolve the stones in the patient's kidney, which most doctors would say today is impossible.

In the last effort, researchers looked closely at kidney stones using a wide range of microscopy techniques. These techniques included light field microscopy, polarization, fluorescence and electron microscopy. Most of these techniques are commonly used in geology. They study the composition of rocks and their evolution over time. But they have not been used to study mineralization in the human body.

The latest methods of microscopy have allowed to observe kidney stones in more detail than ever before. Specifically, Airyscan high-resolution microscopy allowed researchers to visualize samples at a resolution of 140 nanometers, which is much higher than normal optical microscopy.

The results showed that kidney stones retain a "minute-by-minute record of kidney health and function." Early in the development of kidney stones, layers of organic matter stick to each other and form an enormous bouquet. But the massif was broken in many places, revealing that the inner layers were dissolved and new crystals began to grow again in these voids.

"Before this study, it was thought that a kidney stone is just a simple crystal that grows with time," said Jessica Saw of the Mayo Clinic's School of Medicine. "What we see here, is that it's dynamic.The stone grows and dissolves, grows and dissolves.It is very rich with many components.It is very living. "