Children With Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy Are at Increased Risk for Nephrolithiasis

Background: Nephrolithiasis is not a well-documented condition in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). It is possible that this condition was underestimated before the era of nusinersen because of a much shorter life expectancy. We present our observational data on nephrolithiasis and its possible risk factors in children with type 1 SMA.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 20 children with genetically confirmed type 1 SMA. Thirteen patients (aged 9 to 55 months) who underwent urinary tract ultrasonography were included in the study. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for demographic and clinical characteristics, ultrasound results, and metabolic abnormalities.Results: Seven children (54%) had nephrolithiasis; 5 had multiple stones and two had a single stone. Two patients had microlithiasis (<3 mm), three had a stone in the size of 3 to 5 mm, and one had a stone in the size of more than 8 mm. Two patients with nephrolithiasis had urinary tract abnormalities. Patients with nephrolithiasis were more likely to have a history of urinary tract infections (UTIs) (P = 0.048) and higher urine specific gravity (P = 0.014) than patients without nephrolithiasis. Five of seven children with nephrolithiasis had a urine metabolic evaluation; all had hypercalciuria, three had hyperuricosuria, but none had hyperoxaluria, hypocitraturia, or hypomagnesemia.Conclusion: Children with SMA type 1 are at an increased risk for nephrolithiasis. Hypercalciuria and high urine specific gravity appear to be the most common risk factors for the occurrence of neph-rolithiasis. In addition, UTI is more common in patients with type 1 SMA with nephrolithiasis.(c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study examines the occurrence of nephrolithiasis in children with type 1 SMA and identifies hypercalciuria and high urine specific gravity as common risk factors. The study suggests that children with SMA type 1 may have an increased risk of nephrolithiasis compared to the general population.