Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis of Kidney Stones: Methodology of Identification

Abstract

The urinary stone analysis is the first step in looking for the causes of urolithiasis, in order to avoid the problems of recurrence. This analysis sometimes makes it possible to propose a diagnosis, and most often helps to direct the exploration towards the most appropriate examinations. To be reliable, the identification of the components of urinary stones must be carried out by infrared spectroscopy. This study made it possible to make a profile approach on a case of a 67-year-old male adult patient, hospitalized in the urology department of the Bechar hospital (Algeria). Morpho-constitutional analysis of urinary stones showed that the main component was calcium oxalate monohydrate (whewellite) with a percentage of (70%), weddellite (20%), carbapatite (10%), and trace protein. According to the results obtained we notice that the periphery of the stone is Wheddellite, and the nucleus formed essentially of: Whewellite + CA + trace of Protein. According to the superficial and internal morphological type and the morphological association, we can distinguish the main causes that go into the formation of stones: intermittent hypercalciuria (nutritional or absorptive) + intermittent hyperoxaluria (normal or slightly increased oxaluria), these results allow more specific medical management of lithiasis and better prevention of recurrent problems.