A recent presentation at the American Society of Nephrology's Annual Meeting stated kidney stones may damage the kidneys and lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Individuals with CKD caused by kidney stones may even need dialysis or kidney transplants.
 
Kidney stones lead to CKD in patients with rare genetic diseases, but it is unclear if they also are a risk factor for CKD in the general population. In general, researchers have thought that complications of kidney stones can only rarely cause CKD, but studies that have looked at this potential link have been small or have had limited follow-up.

This article originally appeared in the December 2008 issue of Kidney Beginnings: The Electronic Newsletter.