title: Clinical review. Kidney stones 2012: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pathogenetic mechanisms of kidney stone formation are complex and involve both metabolic and environmental risk factors. Over the past decade, major advances have been made in the understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney stone disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both original and review articles were found via PubMed search reporting on pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of kidney stones. These resources were integrated with the authors' knowledge of the field.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nephrolithiasis remains a major economic and health burden worldwide. Nephrolithiasis is considered a systemic disorder associated with chronic kidney disease, bone loss and fractures, increased risk of coronary artery disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and the metabolic syndrome. Further understanding of the pathophysiological link between nephrolithiasis and these systemic disorders is necessary for the development of new therapeutic options.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA. khashayar.sakhaee@utsouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: Khashayar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakhaee
authors.forename: Naim M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Maalouf
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sinnott
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D053040:Nephrolithiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors