Kidney stones - Amy

[Guest guest]

Hi Amy,

Sorry you're sick. Kidney stones are miserable!

> Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 02:37:24 -0000

> From: " Amy B. " <aimesc31@...>

> Subject: Hi Everyone

>

> Hi Everyone! I haven't posted in a while, I've been working and sick

> sick sick at the same time. I can't afford to lose my job so I had to

> work till I couldn't. I was wondering if anyone has had an increase

> in the production of Kidney stones since being diagnosed with CML or

> starting Gleevec. I have had three <not fun> since December, and was

> in the hospital Friday and Saturday with the last one. My urologist

> said that sometimes people with Leukemias produce kidney stones due to

> a change in their body chemistry. Hadn't heard that before. If

> anyone might be able to shed some light on this I would be grateful.

Most kidney stones that occur in the setting of leukemia are caused by rapid

leukemic cell destruction, which results in uric acid buildup and subsequent

chrystalization in the kidneys. I'd expect most of this to occur early in

treatment when billions of cells are killed at once, not once one is in CCR,

or even HR - though I suppose stones that are formed early in treatment

might only become symptomatic later. Were any of your stones collected and

analyzed? If they're not principally composed of urate, then rapid cell

lysis is pretty well ruled out as the cause.

Another possibility is excess calcium intake. Many of us ingest 1200 mg or

more of calcium daily to prevent muscle cramps, and an overload of calcium

in the blood could precipitate in the kidneys as stones. Again, stone

analysis would help determine this.

I can't think of any other reasons why folks with chronic leukemia would

experience this; acute leukemias are a different matter.

Yours,

R