Polycystic Kidney
Disease (PKD)
What is polycystic kidney
disease?
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
is an inherited disease that affects the kidneys. Sacs of
fluid (called cysts) grow in the kidneys. If too many cysts
grow or if they get too big, the kidneys become damaged. The
cysts may also cause pain or may get infected.
PKD is the most common inherited
disease in the United States. Children of parents with PKD
have a 50% chance of getting the disease.
How will PKD affect me?
Most people with PKD can lead a
normal life. In many people, the disease is mild and causes
only minor problems. PKD is more severe in some patients and
can cause kidney failure. About 60% of patients develop high
blood pressure, which can be treated with blood pressure
medicine. About 50% of patients with PKD have kidney failure
by age 60. Dialysis (blood filtering) and kidney transplants
are both effective treatments for kidney failure. PKD is
generally worse in men, blacks and patients with sickle cell
disease. There is also a childhood form of PKD which is
usually more severe than the type that occurs in
adults.
What other organs can be hurt by
PKD?
People with PKD may also have
cysts in the liver, but these cysts seldom cause problems.
Heart valve problems sometimes occur. Other organs that may be
affected include the brain, intestines, pancreas, ovaries and
spleen. If PKD affects the brain, it can cause an aneurysm (a
bulging blood vessel that can rupture).
What are the symptoms of PKD?
The most common symptom of PKD is
high blood pressure. Other symptoms are:
- Pain in the back and side
- Blood in the urine
- Frequent kidney infections
Not all patients will have all of
these symptoms.
How is PKD diagnosed?
PKD is often diagnosed when a
person begins to have symptoms. Symptoms most often occur in
middle age.
If you have symptoms of PKD or if
you are at risk of the disease, your doctor may want you to
have an ultrasound exam to look at your kidneys. An ultrasound
exam provides a picture of your organs by passing sound waves
through your body. An ultrasound exam can detect cysts in your
kidneys. Your doctor may order an x-ray exam called CT
(computerized tomography) to look for cysts in the
kidney.
Who should be checked for PKD?
If one of your parents has PKD,
you should consider having an ultrasound exam of your kidneys.
If you have PKD and you also have a relative who has had a
brain aneurysm, your doctor may suggest that you have a CT or
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of your brain to check for an
aneurysm. (MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to
produce a picture of your brain.) If you are at high risk of
an aneurysm, your doctor may suggest that you have CT or MRI
of the brain every 5 years to detect an aneurysm before it
causes problems.
Is there treatment for PKD?
No treatment is available for the
cysts that occur due to PKD. If the cysts are causing
symptoms, these symptoms can be treated so you will be more
comfortable.
Can PKD be diagnosed in unborn
babies?
Yes. PKD can be diagnosed in
unborn babies using a test called amniocentesis (analysis of
the amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby) or a test called
chorionic villus sampling (examination of a small piece of the
placenta). If you have PKD and you're pregnant, talk with your
doctor about these procedures.
Other Organizations
PKD Foundation
http://www.pkdcure.org
