Question:medium
Laxative abuse causes which of the following renal stones?
Laxative abuse causes which of the following renal stones?
Show Hint
Potassium loss from laxatives raises renal ammonium, favouring an unusual urate stone.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- Uric acid
- Ammonium urate
- Struvite
- Calcium oxalate
Show Solution
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Map each stone to its usual trigger - calcium oxalate is the common idiopathic stone, struvite forms with urease-producing infections, and pure uric acid stones form in acidic concentrated urine. Step 2: Laxative misuse drives chronic gastrointestinal loss of potassium and water. Step 3: The kidney answers the potassium deficit by raising renal ammonium synthesis; the combination of high urinary ammonium with urate precipitation yields ammonium acid urate crystals. Step 4: This makes the uncommon ammonium urate stone the characteristic finding in laxative abusers.\[\boxed{\text{Ammonium urate}}\]
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