CHARACTERIZING MICROSTRUCTURES AND CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC PHASES IN KIDNEY STONES FROM THE NAGPUR REGION, MAHARASHTRA

The increasing incidence of urolithiasis in the Asian population has been noted, and this condition can result in renal failure. The recurrent nature of stone formation presents a substantial apprehension, as it engenders iterative episodes of calculi development, culminating in gradual renal deterioration. Consequently, there exists a pressing imperative for comprehending the composition and etiological factors contributing to nephrolithiasis. A total of 14 kidney stone samples obtained from patients were subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. XRD analysis using MATCH software was employed to determine the crystallographic phases and quantitative abundances of different minerals. SEM examination was conducted to observe the microstructures of the kidney stones. Phase estimate findings showed that whewellite was the sole phase present in the Kidney Stone samples KS4, KS5, KS8, KS9, KS11, and KS12. Struvite and Hydroxyapatite were present in KS1, KS2, and KS13. Moreover, the study of KS3, KS6, and KS7 revealed varied levels of Struvite, Hydroxyapatite, and Weddellite. These microstructural features, investigated using the SEM and FTIR methods, revealed striking microstructural differences which vary with the type of stone. This study provides insights into the composition and microstructure of kidney stones in patients from the Nagpur District. The analysis revealed a higher prevalence of oxalates, struvite, and mixed groups in the kidney stones of the population. These findings contribute to a better understanding of kidney stone formation and may aid in developing preventive and management strategies for urolithiasis in the region.