Dr. Assimos’s own research team has identified a possible new pathway for the endogenous synthesis of oxalate. It involves the metabolism of glyoxal, which is stimulated by oxidative stress. The glyoxal metabolism "may explain the increased oxalate excretion in those with obesity as well as diabetes," he said.
The associations between kidney stone formation and cardiovascular risk have hit home for Dr. Assimos, he said at the end of his presentation. At age 39, he developed his first kidney stone. By 3 years later, he developed hypertension. "And 3 years ago. I started having symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux when exercising ... I had a stress test ... and here is my coronary arteriogram," he told the audience. The end result, he said, was successful coronary artery bypass grafting.
Dr. Assimos reported that he is an investigator for the National Institutes of Health and a partner at Piedmont Stone, a facility in Winston-Salem that provides lithotripsy procedures.