Can Kidney Stones Cause Kidney Failure?

Yes. In rare cases, if no medical evaluation or treatment is provided for kidney stones, the kidney can be damaged and may even fail. Fortunately, when kidney stones are diagnosed and treated on time, this risk is greatly reduced. Early care for kidney stones is therefore one of the most important ways to prevent more serious problems such as kidney failure.

Kidney failure can occur because of urinary obstruction or direct damage to kidney tissue:

1. Damage caused by urinary obstruction: Sometimes a urinary stone becomes stuck while passing through the urine outflow tract and blocks it. If this obstruction is not relieved in time, the kidneys come under significant pressure and the person may also develop a urinary tract infection. If the condition continues, kidney function gradually becomes impaired and can eventually fail.

2. Direct damage to kidney tissue: In some cases, such as staghorn stones, a kidney stone can remain in the kidney without symptoms for a long time, grow larger, and even fill the inside of the kidney. Large stones inside the kidney can causechronic inflammation, scarring, and fibrosis that directly damage kidney tissue and eventually lead to kidney failure.

Of course, in many of these patients, the main cause of damage is long-standing urinary obstruction and an associated infection. If an ultrasound has shown that you have a kidney stone; but you are not experiencing symptoms, you are not free of risk and should seek treatment sooner.

Therefore, if you currently have kidney stones or have had them before, stay under regular medical follow-up, drink enough water, and most importantly, do not use self-directed treatments. Remember to take warning signs such as fever, severe pain, or a noticeable decrease in urine volume seriously, and see a doctor immediately if any of them occur.