A 35-year-old female presents with sudden, severe abdominal pain. She has a history of recurrent kidney stones and has been taking high doses of vitamin C supplements daily for the past 5 years. CT scan shows a large kidney stone obstructing the left ureter. What could be the cause of her condition?
High doses of vitamin C can increase the risk of kidney stone formation, as some of the excess vitamin C is converted into oxalate, a component of the most common type of kidney stone. It's possible that the patient's regular use of high-dose vitamin C supplements contributed to her recurrent kidney stones. She should be advised to stop the supplements, and treatment should be initiated to manage the current kidney stone, which may involve pain management, fluid administration, and possibly surgical intervention.