Types of Kidney stones:
Calcium
Uric Acid
Struvite
Cystine
Calcium stones are by far the most common nephroliths, accounting for more than 75%
of stones. Uric acid stones represent about 5–10%,
trailed by struvite, then cystine stones (Moe, 2006). Calcium kidney stones form when calcium levels in the urine are high owing to hypercalcemia, they form even more readily when the pH of the urine is alkaline (VanMeter, 2013). Calcium stones are most commonly formed from calcium oxalate, but can also be formed by calcium phosphate or carbonate. Oxalate occurs naturally in foods like spinach, fruits, and nuts, and it is produced by the liver (Mayo Clinic, 2012). A vegetarian diet is high in oxalates, leading to increased risk of calcium stone formation. Uric acid stones develop in people with hyperuricemia (could be due to high-purine diet or gout) and develop more readily when urine pH is acidic (VanMeter, 2013). Uric acid stones are particularly associated with metabolic disorders like obesity. Struvite kidney stones generally form in response to an infection like a UTI. These can form rapidly with few initial symptoms. Cystine kidney stones are very rare, only about 1% of kidney stones. They form in people with a rare hereditary disorder that allows the amino acid cystine to leak from the kidneys into the urine to form crystals (Coe, 2006). Other types of kidney stones can occur, however they are extremely rare.