title: Pathophysiology of uric acid nephrolithiasis.
abstract: Humans although a predominantly ureotylic organism, has preserved the ability to excrete nitrogen as uric acid and ammonia. An imbalance between these two secondary modes of nitrogen excretion has resulted in uric acid precipitation in human urine. Uric acid nephrolithiasis can arise from diverse etiologies all with distinct underlying defects converging to one or more of three defects of hyperuricosuria, acidic urine pH, and low urinary volume, originating from secondary, genetic or heretofore undefined (idiopathic) causes. A subset of idiopathic uric acid nephrolithiasis (gouty diathesis) may be the "tip of the icebergp" of a broader systemic illness characterized by insulin resistance. A novel renal manifestation of insulin resistance is a mild defect in ammonium excretion, which is not severe enough to disturb acid-base homeostasis, but is sufficient to set up the chemical milieu for uric acid nephrolithiasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, Center of Human Nutrition, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. orson.moe@utsouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: Orson W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abate
authors.forename: Khashayar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakhaee
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000378:metabolism*; D020347:Lithiasis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D014527:Uric Acid; D009584:Nitrogen