Bone and Mineral Metabolism / Renal (Kidney) Stone Evaluation Clinics

(612) 873-7717

Parkside Professional Center

825 South 8th Street, Suite 800

Minneapolis, MN 55404

Bone and Mineral Metabolism Clinic | About Osteoporosis

Renal Stone Evaluation Clinic | About Kidney Stones

Bone and Mineral Metabolism Clinic

Hennepin County Medical Center’s (HCMC) Bone and Mineral Metabolism Clinic specializes in the management of disorders of calcium and bone metabolisms, including hypercalcemia, osteoporosis, and Paget's disease. The clinic also performs bone densitometry with an iDXA bone densitometry scanner, the newest available technology for measuring bone density.

Renal Stone Evaluation Clinic

HCMC's Renal Stone Evaluation Clinic provides collaborative care from physicians, dieticians, nurses, and technicians committed to working with the patient to evaluate and help prevent future kidney stones.

About Osteoporosis

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures, especially of the hip, spine and wrist, although any bone can be affected.

Preventing Osteoporosis

The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends the following five steps for optimizing bone health and helping prevent osteoporosis:

• Get the daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D
• Engage in regular weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise
• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol
• Talk to your health care provider about bone health
• Have a bone density test and take medication when appropriate

Fast Facts

• In the U.S. today, 10 million individuals are estimated to already have the disease and almost 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis.
• Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans, or 55 percent of the people 50 years of age and older.
• While osteoporosis is often thought of as an older person’s disease, it can strike at any age.

Osteoporosis Prevalence

• Eighty percent of those affected by osteoporosis are women and 20 percent of those affected are men.
• Significant risk has been reported in people of all ethnic backgrounds.
• Osteoporosis is under recognized and under-treated not only in Caucasian women, but in African-American women as well.

Symptoms

• People cannot feel their bones getting weaker. They may not know that they have osteoporosis until they break a bone. A person with osteoporosis can fracture a bone from a minor fall, or in serious cases, from a simple action such as a sneeze or even spontaneously.
• Vertebral (spinal) fractures may initially be felt or seen in the form of severe back pain, loss of height, or spinal deformities such as kyphosis or stooped posture. In many cases, a vertebral facture can even occur with no pain.

Who is at risk?

Certain people are more likely to develop osteoporosis than others. Risk factors include:

• Being female
• Older age
• Family history of osteoporosis or broken bones
• Being small and thin
• History of broken bones
• Low sex hormones
• Low estrogen levels in women, including menopause
• Missing periods (amenorrhea)
• Low levels of testosterone and estrogen in men
• Diet
• Low calcium intake
• Low vitamin D intake
• Excessive intake of protein, sodium and caffeine
• Inactive lifestyle
• Smoking and excessive alcohol intake (three or more drinks a day)
• Certain medications such as steroid medications, some anticonvulsants and others
• Certain diseases and conditions such as anorexia nervosa, rheumatoid arthritis, gastrointestinal diseases and others

Diagnosing Osteoporosis

Bone density tests can measure bone density in various sites of the body. Experts recommend a type of BMD test using a central dual energy x-ray absorptiometry or DXA. A bone density test performed by a central DXA can:

• Determine if a person has low bone density before a fracture occurs
• Determine if a person’s bones are losing bone density or staying the same when the test is repeated annually
• Predict the chances that a person will have a fracture in the future
• Help you and your patient decide if treatment is needed

How often to repeat bone density testing?

People taking an osteoporosis medication should repeat their BMD test by central DXA every two years, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). Some health care providers may have certain patients repeat their BMD test after one year. Medicare reimburses for BMD testing every two years.

About Kidney Stones

The Kidney Stone

Kidney stones form in the kidney and cause pain when they move from the kidney to the bladder. The most common form of kidney stone contains calcium, but other forms include uric acid and cystine. Stone analysis along with medical evaluation provides an understanding of why they form.

Prevalence and Risks

The prevalence of kidney stones has been steadily increasing in the United States for the last 30 years. The incidence in the United States is about 5% of the population, which means about 1 in 20 people will develop a kidney stone in their lifetime. White men are more at risk than anyone, but men and women of all ages and ethnicities are at risk. Once you have had a kidney stone, you are at an increased risk for another stone.

Often kidney stones produce pain, but can also cause other complications such as infection and bleeding.

Of course, when a stone is passed or removed, it is easy to forget about the problem, but you are likely to develop another stone. Treatment in our clinic is aimed at preventing recurrence of kidney stone.

There are many risk factors contributing to stone formation including family history, diet, and metabolic abnormalities.

Who is at risk for kidney stones?

Everyone is at risk. However, there are certain risk factors that may increase your chances of forming a kidney stone. These factors include family history, diet, and metabolic abnormalities.

If I had one kidney stone, how likely am I to get another kidney stone?

Once you have had a kidney stone, you are at increased risk for forming another stone. Recurrence in men is 70% to 80% and in women, 40% to 50%.

What do I need to bring to my first appointment?

We would like you to bring any medical records or x-rays related to your kidney stones.

What can I expect during my first visit to the clinic?

You will be seen by one of our physicians and a dietician. At the end of your visit, our staff will explain any medical tests that are needed.

What kinds of tests are performed?

Usually, as a first time patient, you will be asked to collect two separate 24-hour urine collections, record your daily diet, and test the acid level of your urine. Sometimes additional x-rays are needed to assess for kidney stones.