[Guest]

I have just been diagnosed uric acid kidney stones I have also been told since se invisible to xrays, zapping m is not an option. where do I go from here?

[Guest]

While they are not visible on standard x-rays, they are visible on ultrasound and CT scans. Usually, we try dissolving uric acid stones first. This involves using potassium citrate, a urinary antacid, to get the urine pH or acid level to 6.5-7.0 (it's usually around 5 or less in uric acid stone formers indicating high acid levels). We also use allopurinol (Zyloprim) which blocks the body's ability to make uric acid. The good news is that most of the time we can successfully dissolve these stones and prevent them from returning with the allopurinol therapy and usually just a night-time dose of potassium citrate.

Stephen W. Leslie, MD FACS

Assistant Clinical Professor
Dept. of Urology
Medical College of Ohio

Founder and Medical Director
Lorain Kidney Stone Research Center
Lorain, Ohio