title: What is nephrocalcinosis?
abstract: The available publications on nephrocalcinosis are wide-ranging and have documented multiple causes and associations of macroscopic or radiological nephrocalcinosis, most often located in the renal medulla, with various metabolic and genetic disorders; in fact, so many and various are these that it is difficult to define a common underlying mechanism. We have reviewed nephrocalcinosis in relation to its definition, genetic associations, animal models, and putative mechanisms. We have concluded, and hypothesized, that nephrocalcinosis is primarily a renal interstitial process, resembling metastatic calcification, and that it may have some features in common with, and pathogenic links to, vascular calcification.
authors: Adult Nephrology Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Shavit
authors: UCL Centre for Nephrology, Royal Free Campus and Hospital, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Jaeger
authors: UCL Centre for Nephrology, Royal Free Campus and Hospital, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Unwin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000378:metabolism; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000378:metabolism; D009397:Nephrocalcinosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D002129:Calcium Oxalate; C020243:calcium phosphate; D002118:Calcium