Definition
Polycystic kidney disease is a kidney disorder passed down through families in which multiple cysts form on the kidneys, causing them to become enlarged.
Symptoms
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease include the following:
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Definition
Polycystic kidney disease is a kidney disorder passed down through families in which multiple cysts form on the kidneys, causing them to become enlarged.
Symptoms
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease include the following:
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Causes
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is passed down through families (inherited), usually as an autosomal dominant trait. If one parent carries the gene, the children have a 50% chance of developing the disorder.
Autosomal dominant PKD occurs in both children and adults, but it is much more common in adults, with symptoms often not showing up until middle age. It affects nearly 1 in 1,000 Americans. The actual number may be more, as some people do not have symptoms. The disorder may not be discovered unless tests revealing the disease are performed for other reasons.
An autosomal recessive form of polycystic kidney disease also exists and appears in infancy or childhood. This type tends to be very serious and progresses rapidly, resulting in end-stage kidney failure and generally causing death in infancy or childhood.
Persons with PKD have multiple clusters of cysts form on the kidneys. The exact action that triggers cyst formation is unknown. In early stages of ...
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Treatment
The goal of treatment is to control symptoms and prevent complications. High blood pressure may be difficult to control, but control of it is the most important aspect of treatment.
Treatment may include:
- Blood pressure medicines
- Diuretics
- Low-salt diet
Any urinary tract infection should be treated promptly with appropriate antibiotics.
Cysts that are painful, infected, bleeding, or causing an obstruction may need to be drained. (There are usually too many cysts to make removal a feasible alternative.)
Surgical removal of one or both kidneys may be required. Treatment of end-stage kidney disease may include kidney dialysis or kidney transplantation.
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Other Names
Cysts - kidneys; Kidney - polycystic; Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease; ADPKD
Outlook (Prognosis)
The disease gets worse slowly, eventually resulting in end-stage kidney failure . It is also associated with liver disease , including infection of liver cysts.
Medical treatment may provide relief of symptoms for many years.
The absence of systemic disease or autoimmune disease makes people with polycystic kidney disease good candidates for kidney transplantation.
Prevention
Currently, no treatment can prevent the cysts from forming or enlarging.
