Changing concepts in the aetiology of renal stones

In the past two decades an increasing number of nephrolithiasis-related urinary proteins have been identified. This paper focuses on two of them, namely prothrombin fragment 1 and bikunin, members of the prothrombin and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor families of proteins, respectively. Besides their role as inhibitors of crystallization, these proteins are also involved in inflammation-mediated tissue repair. This is the basis for the concept that the response of renal tissue to injury might play an important role in the aetiology of kidney stones.