Kidney stone dissolution

Dissolution of kidney stones refers to the process of chemically or biologically breaking down existing renal calculi (stones) into soluble components that can be excreted in urine. Most clinical dissolution strategies target uric acid or cystine stones by altering urinary pH (alkalinization) or reducing the concentration of stone-forming substances (e.g., with allopurinol). Calcium oxalate stones, the most common type, have long been considered resistant to clinical dissolution, but recent evidence shows they may partially dissolve and reform *in vivo* through natural biological processes involved in biomineralization and remodeling, influenced by urine chemistry, endogenous inhibitors (like citrate), and possibly the urinary microbiome. No single protein or receptor constitutes a molecular target named 'kidney stone dissolution'; instead, the process involves diverse physical chemistry mechanisms and many molecular modulators[1][2][4][5][6].

Other names

kidney stone dissolutionkidney stone lysisdissolution of renal calculistone dissolution

Urine alkalinization (raises pH to dissolve uric acid or cystine stones)[6]; Inhibition of crystal growth and aggregation (e.g., with citrate binding calcium in the urine)[6]; Reduction of stone-forming substrate production (e.g., allopurinol inhibiting xanthine oxidase)