Renal lithiasis and cardiovascular risk

Renal lithiasis [RL] is a common disease whose prevalence has increased in recent years. It is now considered a systemic pathology, not limited to the kidney and urinary tract, but largely related to diabetes mellitus, obesity, arterial hypertension, hyperuricemia, hypercholesterolemia, and chronic kidney disease, all cardiovascular risk factors that are often linked to severe events such as stroke, coronary heart disease, or acute myocardial infarction. Numerous cross-sectional studies and meta-analyses have demonstrated the association between these two entities. In this review we will attempt to demonstrate the mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of RL and its relationship with cardiovascular disease. As mechanisms involved, three associations are mentioned. The first refers to oxidative stress and inflammation. The second association refers to the presence of lithogenic mechanisms that contribute to vascular calcification. The last theory is the already known association of obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and HT, all risk factors for the development of RL as well as cardiovascular disease, remembering that RL is the cause, in 8%, of the development of chronic kidney disease, another risk factor for cardiovascular disease and death. In conclusion, the theory that RL is not a disease limited to the kidney and urinary tract, but a systemic disease, with a risk of cardiovascular events so severe that they can lead to death, is confirmed