What are cystine stones?

What are cystine stones?

Cystine stones are a type of kidney stones. Kidney stones happen when collections of chemicals come together to create a hard mass. These stones can be formed by several different chemicals in the body. Cystine stones are made of a chemical called cystine, a product of a condition called cystinuria. Stones can be a variety of sizes. Cystine stones tend to be larger and sometimes need to be removed surgically to prevent damage to the kidneys or urinary tract. This is a rare condition that is passed down through families (an inherited condition).