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19 years
Three of my sisters have been suffering from kidney stones (cystine) for over 10 years. They did several surgeries and still are. What is your opinion on such a case?
May 18, 2014

Dr. Salim Saab Otolaryngology (ENT)
Owing to its relative insolubility, cystine tend to precipitate. Cystine stones may be dissolved or prevented from forming if the traction of urine is kept alkaline and urine volume is high.
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Dr. Nehme Raad Urology
Cystine stones, once formed, cannot be dissolved. They need to have a surgical intervention to be removed (depending on the stone's size and position); they can have lithotripsy, percutaneous, endoscopic, laparoscopic or even open stone extraction.
Once they are stone free, they need to follow strict considerations to prevent the formation of new stones. Otherwise, stone recurrence rate is very high.
Stone prevention is based on heavy hydration, urine alkalinisation, drug intake and repeated 24 hours urine collection to insure keeping a low cystine level in urine.
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