Some patients have recurrent nephrolithiasis that may prove refractory to all known preventive strategies. Such individuals can experience frequent bouts of renal colic that result in narcotic dependency, long-term disability, and depression.
The genitourinary tract is the system most frequently affected by congenital defects. Such defects can be solitary or involve multiple organ systems.
Four years ago, a joint effort was established between nephrologists and urologists at the Cleveland Clinic Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute to develop and implant a bioartificial kidney.
