Hyperoxaluria and oxalosis

Overview

Hyperoxaluria occurs when you have too much oxalate in your urine. Oxalate is a natural chemical in your body, and it's also found in certain types of food. But too much oxalate in your urine can cause serious problems.

Hyperoxaluria can be caused by inherited (genetic) disorders, an intestinal disease or eating too many oxalate-rich foods. Quick diagnosis and treatment of hyperoxaluria is important to the long-term health of your kidneys.

Oxalosis happens after the kidneys fail in people who have primary and intestinal causes of hyperoxaluria, and excess oxalate builds up in the blood. This can lead to oxalate deposits in blood vessels, bones and body organs.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for hyperoxaluria

• Experience. Mayo Clinic is one of the most experienced medical centers in the world in caring for people who have genetic (primary) and intestinal forms of hyperoxaluria.
• Special expertise and team approach. The Mayo Clinic Hyperoxaluria Center in Minnesota brings together doctors from many specialties to design a personalized treatment plan, based on the type and severity of hyperoxaluria and any related conditions. Mayo Clinic offers a range of services, from treatment to reduce oxalate in your urine, to minimally invasive procedures for kidney stone treatment and removal. Or, if needed for severe hyperoxaluria, Mayo's highly skilled surgeons can perform kidney or kidney-liver transplants.
• Specialized testing. Mayo Clinic's laboratory has special capability to run specific tests for hyperoxaluria, such as measurement of oxalate in blood and urine and DNA testing, that aren't widely available.
• Efficient care. Mayo Clinic coordinates your testing and doctor appointments to speed the process of diagnosis and treatment. A specialist in kidney diseases (nephrologist) usually manages your care.
• Research. The Mayo Clinic Hyperoxaluria Center in Minnesota conducts research to understand the disease and find more effective treatments. When appropriate, you have the opportunity to participate in the Rare Kidney Stone Consortium primary hyperoxaluria registry and in clinical trials to test new diagnosis and treatment options.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., are ranked among the Best Hospitals for kidney disorders by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., is ranked high performing for kidney disorders by U.S. News & World Report.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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