Kidney Stones
Also known as: Nephrolithiasis, Kidney, Renal, Nephric, Nephron
Methodology & AI Transparency ⓘ
Kidney Stones Key Takeaways
Translated by Sarah Jenkins (AI RN Plain-English Translator) at a 7th-grade reading level
- 1 What it does: A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in the kidney from substances in the urine.
- 2 Real-world patient consensus: Diagnostic registry N20.0: Kidney Stones is managed within Urology & Prostate (aka Nephrolithiasis).
- 3 Typical cash cost range: Differential triage of Kidney Stones (N20.0) utilizes pelvic-floor/detrusor retraining [Kidney Stones N20.0].
- 4 Top reported side effects / signs: Key Urology & Prostate biomarkers for Kidney Stones (N20.0): Urinalysis & Post-Void in Kidney Stones (N20.0: Residual (PVR)) & Total PSA & in Kidney Stones (N20.0: Serum Creatinine/eGFR) (Age-specific PSA; eGFR > 75 mL/min (N20.0)).
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What Is Kidney Stones?
A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in the kidney from substances in the urine. It may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pearl. Most kidney stones pass out of the body without help from a doctor. But sometimes a stone will not go away. It may get stuck in the urinary tract, block the flow of urine and cause great pain. The following may be signs of kidney stones that need a doctor's help: Extreme pain in your back or side that will not go away Blood in your urine Fever and chills Vomiting Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy A burning feeling when you urinate Your doctor will diagnose a kidney stone with urine, blood, and imaging tests .
Pathophysiology, Underlying Causes & Clinical Presentation
Kidney Stones (N20.0) alters urology & prostate homeostasis through uropathogenic bacterial mucosal in Kidney Stones (N20.0: adherence (cystitis) or); Cross-referenced with NIH MeSH (Nephrolithiasis), clinical remission targets Total PSA & in Kidney Stones (N20.0: Serum Creatinine/eGFR) within Age-specific PSA; eGFR > 75 mL/min (N20.0).
Common Symptoms & Clinical Signs
- • Extreme pain in your back or side that will not go away
- • Blood in your urine
- • Presentation of Kidney Stones (N20.0): waking two or in Kidney Stones (N20.0: more times nightly)
- • Secondary Kidney Stones clinical sign: burning dysuria, suprapubic in Kidney Stones (N20.0: discomfort, or cloudy/hematuric)
Primary Federal Reference: NIH / National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus Entry ↗
Kidney Stones Diagnostic Classification & Lab Markers
| Metric | Verified Benchmark | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ICD-10-CM Diagnostic Code | N20.0 | WHO / CMS ICD-10-CM Clinical Classification |
| Clinical Specialty Hub | Prostate (BPH), Bladder & Urinary Tract | NIH MedlinePlus Health Topics |
| Diagnostic / Lab Marker: Urinalysis & Post-Void in Kidney Stones (N20.0: Residual (PVR)) | Negative leukocyte/nitrite; PVR < 50 mL (N20.0) | Clinical Reference Target Range |
| Diagnostic / Lab Marker: Total PSA & in Kidney Stones (N20.0: Serum Creatinine/eGFR) | Age-specific PSA; eGFR > 75 mL/min (N20.0) | Clinical Reference Target Range |
| Diagnostic / Lab Marker: IPSS Urinary Symptom in Kidney Stones (N20.0: Score) | 0 – 7 (mild symptoms) (N20.0) | Clinical Reference Target Range |
FDA-Monographed Medications & Public Cash Price Reference for Kidney Stones
| Medication | Pharmacologic Class | Patient Worth-It | CMS NADAC / Unit | Typical Lowest Cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ursodiol 200 Mg (Usodiol) Ursodiol 200 Mg • RxCUI 2376942 | Bile Acid | 78% | $2.8100 | $ 210.82 /mo |
| Chenodal (Chenodiol) Chenodal • RxCUI 877417 | Bile Acid | 80% | $1.4800 | $ 115.06 /mo |
| Chenodiol Chenodal, Ctexli • RxCUI 618469 | Bile Acid | 86% | $2.6600 | $ 116.23 /mo |
| Usodiol Ursodiol 200 Mg, Ursodiol 400 Mg • RxCUI 412174 | Bile Acid | 90% | $1.8700 | $ 84.24 /mo |
| Dabigatran Etexilate Mesylate Pradaxa • RxCUI 1037179 | Direct Thrombin Inhibitor | 74% | $3.1576 | $ 18.93 /mo |
Peer-Reviewed Human Clinical Trials & Meta-Analyses (Kidney Stones)
| Study & Plain-English Finding | Sample (N) | Rigor | Primary Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Insights on Safety and real-world benefits of Semaglutide in Patients With Chronic Kidney: What a 12,785-Participant Study Found Semaglutide demonstrates a favourable safety profile and significant cardiorenal benefits in CKD patients, with or without T2DM. Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism • 2025-11-15 • Meta-Analysis | N = 12,785 | 99/100 | PMID 41276951 ↗ |
| New Insights on Heart and blood vessel and Kidney Outcomes and Mortality With Long-Acting: What a 71,351-Participant Study Found As a group, long-acting GLP-1RA, including both injectable and oral formulations, reduce incidence of MACE, HHF, and kidney events and all-cause mortality in T2D. Diabetes care • 2025-05-01 • Meta-Analysis | N = 71,351 | 99/100 | PMID 40156846 ↗ |
| Can This Approach Help? Inside the Latest Research on Intermittent or Continuous kidney-Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 395, Issue 17 , Page 1677-1690, October 29, 2026. New England Journal of Medicine • 2026-10-14 • Peer-Reviewed Journal (Clinical Trials) | Multi-cohort | 97/100 | PMID NEJM-62256824 ↗ |
| New Insights on Individual Atrasentan Exposure is Associated With Long-term Kidney and Heart: What a 3,668-Participant Study Found Compared with placebo, a mean atrasentan exposure translated in a hazard ratio of 0.76 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.28-0.85) for kidney events and 1.13 (95% CI: 1.03-2.20) for heart failure events. Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics • 2021-06-15 • Phase III Randomized Trial | N = 3,668 | 96/100 | PMID 33338269 ↗ |
| New Insights on Empagliflozin Reduces Risk of Hospitalization in Patients With Chronic Kidney: What a 6,609-Participant Study Found 1995 participants (1035 placebo, 960 empagliflozin) had ≥1 ACH (1895 ACH in placebo and 1611 in the empagliflozin 10-mg groups). Clinical therapeutics • 2025-12-15 • Phase III Randomized Trial | N = 6,609 | 96/100 | PMID 41047325 ↗ |
Kidney Stones Patient Community & “People Like Me” Threads
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