Step five in the recipe for stone formation is occupation. A study from Israel found that lifeguards in that country faced about a 20-fold increased risk of kidney stones, compared with that of the general population (Adv Exp Med Biol. 1980;128:467-72). Meanwhile, a study of glass factory workers in Italy found that the prevalence of kidney stones was 8.5% among those exposed to blast furnace sites, compared with 2.4% among those who worked in ambient temperatures (P = .03) (J Urol 1993 Dec;150[6]:1757-60). A similar finding was observed in a more recent study of steel factory workers in Brazil (Urology 2005;65[5]:858-61).
Variations to the “recipe” for kidney stones include certain genetic diseases such as primary hyperoxaluria and Dent disease; anatomic variations such as horseshoe kidney and ileal conduits; coexisting disease such as inflammatory bowel disease and primary hyperparathyroidism; and effects from medication such as acetazolamide/topiramate and prednisone.
“Mix up genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and dietary/lifestyle factors and add the magic ingredient,” Dr. Zisman concluded. “There is something that is affecting some people and not others. We don’t know what that is, and we clearly need more research.”
Dr. Zisman reported having no financial disclosures.