Question:

Laxative abuse causes which of the following renal stones?

Show Hint

Potassium loss from laxatives raises renal ammonium, favouring an unusual urate stone.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Uric acid
  • Ammonium urate
  • Struvite
  • Calcium oxalate
Show Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Most kidney stones are calcium oxalate, with uric acid, struvite (infection stones) and cystine being less common. Step 2: Chronic laxative abuse causes ongoing potassium and fluid loss through the gut. Step 3: To compensate for the resulting hypokalaemia and acid-base shifts, the kidney increases ammonium production, which favours formation of the uncommon ammonium acid urate (ammonium urate) stone. Step 4: Therefore the stone specifically linked to laxative abuse is ammonium urate, not the more general calcium oxalate, uric acid or infection-related struvite stones.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0