What is hyperoxaluria?

Hyperoxaluria is a chronic disease in which the urine of patients contains high concentration of oxalate Excessive accumulation of oxalate in the kidney can lead to the formation of kidney stones Hyperoxaluria can be inherited or caused by a diet rich in oxalate People with symptoms of decreased urination, nausea and fatigue should see a doctor as soon as possible to check for oxalate excess and avoid more dangerous complications Normally, oxalate ingested through food is processed in the liver and excreted as waste by the kidney However, oxalate can not be decomposed properly in patients with hyperoxaluria, which results in the presence of too much oxalate in the kidney and urethra These extra salts bind calcium to form insoluble crystals (also known as kidney stones) Once the crystals start to form, the patient will feel pain, frequent urination, frequent vomiting and nausea, often feeling tired and weak Without treatment, kidney stones can cause severe obstruction and abdominal pain, inflammation of the kidney, and even renal failure Most cases of hyperoxaluria are the result of gene mutations that inhibit the production of specific liver enzymes, which will cause the liver to be unable to decompose oxalate normally Too much oxalate in the diet can also cause the disease Chocolate, nuts and leafy green vegetables contain a lot of oxalate Eating too much of this kind of food will lead to excessive liver and kidney pressure In addition, gastrointestinal diseases occasionally inhibit the proper decomposition and excretion of oxalate People who suspect they have hyperoxaluria should see a doctor for an assessment and understand the appropriate treatment Doctors analyze urine and blood to check for oxalate and mineral levels In addition, ultrasound or X-ray may be used to scan for signs of kidney stones If the patient is involved in kidney disease, more tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis We should decide how to treat hyperoxaluria according to the specific reasons Dietotherapy is the simplest treatment Patients need to avoid oxalate rich foods and drink more orange juice and water to clean their kidneys People with hereditary hyperoxaluria usually need to take drugs to help control their oxalate levels If the disease develops to renal failure, kidney and liver transplantation are also needed After proper treatment, most patients can recover completely.