Nephrolithiasis and Nephrocalcinosis in Children with Glucose-Galactose Malabsorption: Report of Five Cases

Several reports described nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis in children with glucose-galactose malabsorption (GGM). The etiology of renal stones in GGM is not known, but the chronic dehydration and concentrated urine complicating chronic diarrhea in GGM might be a possible mechanism. Few reports described nephrocalcinosis in association with hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, and renal tubular defect. Both nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis can present in the neonatal period at the time of diagnosis or manifest later during follow up. We are aware of eleven patients of GGM with nephrolithiasis reported worldwide, and eight patients of GGM with nephrocalcinosis. In this current report, we describe a total of five patients with GGM complicated with nephrolithiasis (three cases), and nephrocalcinosis (two cases). As far as we know, this series is the largest group of patients described with these complications in one report. We aim from this paper to deliver a message to the pediatricians and pediatric gastroenterologist to do regular ultrasonography of the kidneys in all patients of GGM at the time of diagnosis and during follow up to recognize these complications early and refer them in the right moment for management.