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  • Kidney Stone Composition: Types & Chemical Breakdown
    Kidney stones are made up of various minerals and salts that crystallize in the urine. The most common types of kidney stones and their chemical compositions are:

    1. Calcium Oxalate Stones (75-80% of stones):

    * Calcium Oxalate Monohydrate (Whewellite): CaC₂O₄·H₂O

    * Calcium Oxalate Dihydrate (Weddellite): CaC₂O₄·2H₂O

    2. Calcium Phosphate Stones (10-15% of stones):

    * Hydroxyapatite: Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH

    * Brushite: CaHPO₄·2H₂O

    3. Struvite Stones (10-15% of stones):

    * Struvite: MgNH₄PO₄·6H₂O

    * Newberyite: MgHPO₄·3H₂O

    4. Uric Acid Stones (5-10% of stones):

    * Uric acid: C₅H₄N₄O₃

    5. Cystine Stones (1-2% of stones):

    * Cystine: C₆H₁₂N₂O₄S₂

    Other rarer types:

    * Xanthin Stones: C₅H₄N₄O₂

    * 2,8-Dihydroxyadenine Stones: C₅H₅N₅O₃

    The specific composition of a kidney stone can vary depending on individual factors such as diet, genetics, and medical conditions. However, the majority of kidney stones are composed of calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, or a combination of both.

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