Cystinuria

Alternative names:

cystine stones; stones - cystine

Symptoms:

• flank pain or pain in the side
  • on one side only (unilateral) or, rarely, both sides
  • often severe
  • may be progressive, getting increasingly worse over months
  • may travel or radiate to lower flank, pelvis, groin, genitals

• blood in the urine

Signs and tests:

Symptoms may indicate kidney stones. The physical examination is nonspecific.

Straining the urine may capture urinary tract stones when they are excreted. An analysis of the stones shows cystine. A urinalysis may show sediment and cystine crystals. A 24-hour urine collection shows excess of cystine.

An abdominal CT scan, abdominal MRI, or abdominal ultrasound may show a presence of stones in the urinary tract. An IVP may show stones in the urinary tract.