Beyond kidney stones: Why pediatricians should worry about hypercalciuria

Abstract

The incidence of urolithiasis (UL) is increasing, and it has become more common in children and adolescents over the past few decades. Hypercalciuria is the leading metabolic risk factor of pediatric UL, and it has high morbidity, with or without lithiasis as hematuria and impairment of bone mass. The reduction in bone mineral density has already been described in pediatric idiopathic hypercalciuria (IH), and the precise mechanisms of bone loss or failure to achieve adequate bone mass gain remain unknown. A current understanding is that hypercalciuria throughout life can be considered a risk of change in bone structure and low bone mass throughout life. However, it is still not entirely known whether hypercalciuria throughout life can compromise the quality of the mass. The peak bone mass is achieved by late adolescence, peaking at the end of the second decade of life. This accumulation should occur without interference in order to achieve the peak of optimal bone mass. The bone mass acquired during childhood and adolescence is a major determinant of adult bone health, and its accumulation should occur without interference. This raises the critical question of whether adult osteoporosis and the risk of fractures are initiated during childhood. Pediatricians should be aware of this pediatric problem and investigate their patients. They should have the knowledge and ability to diagnose and initially manage patients with IH, with or without UL.

Keywords: Children; Adolescents; Hypercalciuria; Bone mineral density; Kidney stone

Core Tip: The incidence of pediatric urolithiasis is increasing, and hypercalciuria is its leading metabolic risk factor. The reduction in bone mass has already been described in hypercalciuric children, and the precise mechanisms of bone loss or failure to achieve adequate bone mass remain unknown. The peak bone mass is achieved by late adolescence, peaking at the end of the second decade of life. This accumulation should occur without interference. The bone mass acquired during childhood and adolescence is the major determinant of adult bone health. Pediatricians should have the knowledge and ability to diagnose and manage pediatric patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria.