Nephrolithiasis – Most Debilitating Renal Disorder

Abstract

Both metabolic and environmental risk factors are involved in the pathogenetic mechanisms of kidney stone formation. Major advances have been made in the concept of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney stone disease over the last decade. It remains a major health burden worldwide. It 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. Many therapeutic interventions which can effectively target the stones are available but these are associated with untoward effects. In the pursuit of finding better alternatives, large number of plants was screened for their antiurolithiatic activity. They were found to possess potent activity with minimal/no side effects. Development of new therapeutic agents is possible by understanding the link between nephrolithiasis and these systemic disorders