What is the Difference Between Nephrolithiasis and Nephrocalcinosis

The key difference between nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis is that nephrolithiasis is a condition due to the presence of stones within the renal pelvis, while nephrocalcinosis is a condition due to the deposition of calcium salts in the renal parenchyma.

The kidney is a bean-shaped organ. It is normally about the size of a fist. Kidneys filter out extra water and wastes in the body. Kidney diseases occur due to damage to the kidneys. Kidney diseases can affect the ability of the body to filter out extra water out of the blood, controlling the blood pressure. These diseases also affect the kidney’s ability to clean the waste from the body. Moreover, they can also affect red blood cell production and vitamin D metabolism needed for bone health. Nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis are two different kidney diseases.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Nephrolithiasis 
3. What is Nephrocalcinosis
4. Similarities – Nephrolithiasis and Nephrocalcinosis
5. Nephrolithiasis vs. Nephrocalcinosis in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Nephrolithiasis and Nephrocalcinosis
7. Summary – Nephrolithiasis vs. Nephrocalcinosis

What is Nephrolithiasis?

Nephrolithiasis is a condition due to hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside the renal pelvis of kidneys. The symptoms of this condition are severe, sharp pain in the side and back or below the ribs, pain that radiates towards the lower abdomen and groin, pain or burning sensation while urinating, pink, red, or brown urine, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, a persistent urgency to urinate, nausea, vomiting, and fever and chills. Nephrolithiasis occurs when urine contains more crystal-forming substances such as calcium, oxalate, and uric acid than the fluid in the urine can dilute. Alternatively, it may occur due to a lack of substances in the urine that prevent crystals from sticking together.

Moreover, the risk factors for this condition are family history, dehydration, certain diets (high protein, salt, or sugar), obesity, digestive diseases, surgery, other medical conditions like renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, hyperparathyroidism, repeated urinary tract infections, certain medications such as vitamin C, dietary supplements, laxatives, calcium-based antacids, and certain medications used to treat migraines or depression.

Nephrolithiasis can be diagnosed through blood testing, urine testing, CT scan, X-ray, and analysis of passed stones. Furthermore, treatment options for nephrolithiasis may include drinking plenty of water, taking pain relievers, taking alpha-blockers, using sound waves to break stones, surgery to remove large stones, using a scope to remove stones, and parathyroid gland surgery.

What is Nephrocalcinosis?

Nephrocalcinosis is a condition due to the generalized deposition of calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate in the interstitium or renal parenchyma. Nephrocalcinosis is caused due to diseases like hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypercalciuria, hyperphosphaturia, ethylene glycol toxicity, use of medicines like acetazolamide, amphotericin B, and triamterene, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis of the kidney and infections related to AIDS and vitamin D toxicity. The symptoms of this condition are blood in the urine, fever and chills, nausea and vomiting, and severe pain in the belly area, sides of the back, groin, or testicles. Moreover, the risk factors for nephrocalcinosis are persistent hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia, increased urinary excretion of calcium, phosphate, or oxalate, hypocitraturia, chronic hypokalemic states, and hyperoxaluria.

Nephrocalcinosis can be diagnosed through blood tests, urinalysis, abdominal CT scan, and ultrasound. Furthermore, treatment options for nephrocalcinosis may include taking adequate fluid, managing underlying conditions, taking medications like pain relievers, taking a restricted diet, and surgical intervention.

What are the Similarities Between Nephrolithiasis and Nephrocalcinosis?

• Nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis are two different kidney diseases.
• Both conditions are related to each other.
• Both conditions can be diagnosed through blood tests, urine tests, and imaging tests.
• They can be treated by taking plenty of fluid, taking a restricted diet, taking medications like pain relievers and surgical intervention.

What is the Difference Between Nephrolithiasis and Nephrocalcinosis?

Nephrolithiasis is a condition that is due to the presence of stones within the renal pelvis, while nephrocalcinosis is a condition that is due deposition of calcium salts in the renal parenchyma. Thus, this is the key difference between nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis.

Furthermore, the risk factors for nephrolithiasis are family history, dehydration, certain diets (high protein, salt or sugar), obesity, digestive diseases, surgery, other medical conditions like renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, hyperparathyroidism, repeated urinary tract infections, certain medications such as vitamin C, dietary supplements, laxatives, calcium-based antacids, and certain medications used to treat migraines or depression. On the other hand, the risk factors for nephrocalcinosis are persistent hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia, increased urinary excretion of calcium, phosphate, or oxalate, hypocitraturia, chronic hypokalemic states, and hyperoxaluria.

The infographic below presents the differences between nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

FAQ: Nephrolithiasis and Nephrocalcinosis

What is the difference between kidney stones and calcium stones?

Most kidney stones are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate.

What are the 3 types of kidney stones?

Calcium oxalate, uric acid, and Struvite are the three types of kidney stones.

What is another name for a kidney stone?

Renal calculus or nephrolith are synonyms for kidney stones.

Summary – Nephrolithiasis vs. Nephrocalcinosis

Kidney diseases occur due to damage to the kidneys, leading to the inability to filter blood the way kidneys should. Nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis are two different kidney diseases. Nephrolithiasis is a condition due to the presence of stones within the renal pelvis, while nephrocalcinosis is a condition due deposition of calcium salts in the renal parenchyma. So, this summarizes the difference between nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis.

Reference:

1. “Kidney Stones.” Penn Medicine.
2. Tibor Fulop, MD. “Nephrocalcinosis Treatment & Management.” Approach Considerations, Pharmacologic and Other Nonsurgical Therapies, Surgical Intervention, Medscape.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Kidney Stones” By Blausen.com staff (2014). “Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014” WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436. – Own work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Nephrocalcinosis, annular” By Klinikum Stuttgart, Olgahospital, Kinderradiologie – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia