Urology for People

140 Urology Journal    Vol 7    No 2    Spring 2010

URINARY STONES AND FAMILIAL 
RELATIONS
The prevalence of urinary stones varies 
significantly from country to country all over the 
world. Current data on the occurrence of urinary 
stones ranges between 2% and 20%. The annual 
incidence of stone formation in the industrialized 
regions is generally considered to be 1500 to 

2000 subjects per million. Urinary stones prevalence  
may vary according to cultural, racial, and health 
variables among countries. Accurate prevalence of 
a disease can only be determined if geographical 
region, socioeconomic status, race, age, gender, 
climate, nutrition, and other environmental 
and cultural factors are also considered. Urinary 
stones were significantly associated with a positive 
family history of urinary stones. The positive 
family history of urinary stone has been reported 
in 16% to 37% of patients with the kidney stone 
compared with 4% to 22% in healthy population. 
In this study, it was also documented that family 
history is very common in Iranian population and 
is a risk factor for recurrence.

See page 81  for full-text article

KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION AND HEART
Renal insufficiency is one of the most important 
diseases, if left untreated can compromise the 
patient’s life. Renal insufficiency can affect 
adversely various organs, most importantly 
the heart. Heart diseases are the major cause 
of death in patients with renal insufficiency. 
Coronary artery disease and left ventricular 
hypertrophy (thickness of the left ventricle wall) 
are the two most common heart complications 

in patients with advanced renal insufficiency. 
Left ventricular hypertrophy is a risk factor 
for various heart diseases such as sudden death. 
Renal transplantation is the best method of 
treatment for the patients with advanced renal 
insufficiency. With renal transplantation, most 
complications of renal insufficiency in various 
organs will improve. The present study showed 
that renal transplantation had beneficial effects 
on function of the left ventricle in young patients 
with advanced renal insufficiency. Indeed, 
renal transplantation significantly improves 
the left ventricle function. Patients with renal 
insufficiency should proceed as early as possible 
for renal transplantation.

See page 105   for full-text article

KIDNEY CANCER
Kidney cancer accounts for 3% of all adult 
malignancies and is known as “great mimicker”. 
It means that kidney cancer can produce 
various signs and symptoms in affected patients. 
However, kidney cancer usually presents itself 
by three symptoms and signs: bloody urine, 
loin pain, and a palpable mass in the flank. 
Bloody urine, especially at older ages, is a very 
important sign; if it is ignored, it can cause serious 
problems for the affected person. Nowadays, with 
increased use of imaging, some kidney cancers 
are detected before causing classic presentation. 
Every solid renal mass is important and should be 
addressed by physician. Sometimes the renal mass 
spontaneously ruptures and causes emergency 
situation. Therefore, timely dealing with every 
solid renal mass is mandatory.

 See page 99  for full-text article

what’s Up in Urology Journal, Spring 2010?

Urology for People is a section in the Urology Journal for providing people 
with a summary of what is published in this journal and describing 
urological entities in a simple language. The Persian translation of this 
article is available from www.uj.unrc.ir. 

Important Note. The findings in medical papers are usually not directly 
applicable in clinical practice and patients should consult their physicians 
before any utilization of the results of medical studies.

Urol J. 2010;7:140. 
www.uj.unrc.ir