Dr. José Ramón Cansino, an expert urologist in kidney stones, warned on the occasion of World Health Day Hiperoxaluria which was commemorated this week, about the importance of early diagnosis and the role of the urologist in detecting this little-known condition, since it can cause kidney failure if not detected in time.
“Hyperoxaluria causes excessive elimination of oxalate in the urine, which favors the formation of kidney stones and, in the most severe cases, can lead to chronic kidney failure”explains the specialist.
Hyperoxaluria can be primary, of genetic origin, or secondary, related to intestinal problems or surgeries that alter the absorption of nutrients. In its most severe form, oxalate deposits can extend beyond the kidney and affect organs such as the heart, bones or retina.
Hyperoaxaluria is a rare and little-known disease.
“In many cases, patients come to the urologist’s office after several episodes of recurrent colic or kidney stones, without knowing that there may be a rare metabolic disease behind. The urologist is usually the first specialist to suspect it and can request the necessary metabolic and genetic tests to confirm the diagnosis,” he indicated.
Although it is considered a rare disease – with an estimated prevalence of between 1 and 3 cases per million inhabitants in type 1 -, hyperoxaluria may be underdiagnosed. Urology guidelines recommend paying special attention to patients with repeated kidney stones or stones, nephrocalcinosis, or a family history of early kidney stones.
Its management combines prevention measures such as abundant hydration, adequate diet and control of oxalate levels. For this reason, Cansino insists on the need to give visibility to this rare disease and promote its early detection.
“A simple metabolic analysis can change the evolution of the disease and improve the quality of life of patients,” he concludes.
