Nephrolithiasis as primary symptom in sarcoidosis

Abstract

A 30-year-old black woman presented with a 1-year history of repeated episodes of worsening weight loss and fatigue. Physical examination showed no skin lesions and a chest roentgenogram was normal. Workup showed no obvious cause of recurrent renal stones. Finally, the detection of lymphadenopathy led to the diagnosis of extrapulmonary sarcoidosis. Up to 4% of all cases of sarcoidosis may present with urolithiasis only. Renal stones may be more common in severe cases of sarcoidosis, which affect blacks most frequently. Although not generally recommended for diagnostic purposes in sarcoidosis, in this case determination of the angiotensin-converting enzyme level was helpful in making the correct diagnosis. It is important that physicians are aware of the possibility that sarcoidosis may present as urolithiasis, even in the presence of a negative chest roentgenogram.

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme
• extrapulmonary sarcoidosis
• urolithiasis