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Cystinuria

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Stones - cystine; Cystine stones

Symptoms:

• Flank pain or pain in the side or back
  • On one side only (unilateral) or -- rarely, both sides
  • Often severe
  • May be progressive, getting increasingly worse over days
  • May travel or radiate to lower flank, pelvis, groin, genitals
• Blood in the urine

Signs and tests:

Symptoms may indicate kidney stones. The doctor will not be able to determine the presence or cause of the stones with only a physical examination.

Straining the urine may capture urinary tract stones when they are excreted. An analysis of the stones shows cystine. A urinalysis may show sediment and cystine crystals. A 24-hour urine collection shows an excess of cystine.

An abdominal CT scan , abdominal MRI, or abdominal ultrasound may show a presence of stones in the urinary tract. An IVP (intravenous pyelogram) may show stones in the urinary tract.

• Review Date: 2/3/2006
• Reviewed By: Charles Silberberg, DO, Private Practice specializing in Nephrology, Affiliated with New York Medical College, Division of Nephrology, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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