Description

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a condition in which clusters of cysts that grow in the body, primarily in the kidneys. Over time, the cysts can cause the kidneys to become larger, and stop working. The DISEASE is most often transmitted through families. This is called an inherited condition.

The cysts are round, fluid-filled sacs in them. They are not cancer. In polycystic kidney disease, cysts can vary in size. They can grow very big. Having many cysts or large cysts can damage your kidneys.

Polycystic kidney disease also can cause cysts to grow in the liver, pancreas, and other places in the body. The disease can cause serious complications, including high blood pressure and kidney failure.

ERP varies greatly in how bad it is. It is possible to prevent some complications. Lifestyle changes and treatments can help reduce the damage to the kidneys.

Symptoms

Polycystic kidney disease symptoms may include:

  • The high blood pressure.
  • Belly, side or back pain.
  • Blood in the urine.
  • A feeling of fullness in the belly.
  • The increased size of the belly enlargement of the kidneys.
  • Headaches.
  • Stones in the kidney.
  • The renal failure.
  • Urinary tract or kidney infections.

When to see a doctor

People often have polycystic kidney disease for years without knowing it.

If you have some of the symptoms of polycystic kidney disease, consult your health care professional. If you have a parent, sibling or child with the disease polycystic kidney disease, consult your health care professional to talk about the detection of the condition.

Causes

The changes in genes cause polycystic kidney disease. Most often, the condition runs in families. Sometimes, a change in the gene that happens on its own in a child. This is called a spontaneous gene change. Below, none of the parents have a copy of the altered gene.

There are two main types of polycystic kidney disease. They are caused by different gene changes. The two types of ERP are:

  • Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).This is the most common type of kidney disease that is transmitted through families, also called legacy. The symptoms of the DISEASE can often begin between the ages of 30 and 40 years. Only one of the parents must have the condition to pass out to the children. If one of the parents has the DISEASE, each child has a 50% chance of developing the disease. This is the most common type of polycystic kidney disease.
  • Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD).This type is much less common than is the ADPKD. The symptoms usually appear shortly after birth. Sometimes, symptoms don't appear until later in childhood or in adolescence. Both parents must have the gene changes to happen in this form of the disease. If both parents are carriers of a mutation, each child has a 25% chance of developing the disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). This is the most common type of kidney disease that is transmitted through families, also called legacy. The symptoms of the DISEASE can often begin between the ages of 30 and 40 years.

Only one of the parents must have the condition to pass out to the children. If one of the parents has the DISEASE, each child has a 50% chance of developing the disease. This is the most common type of polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). This type is much less common than is the ADPKD. The symptoms usually appear shortly after birth. Sometimes, symptoms don't appear until later in childhood or in adolescence.

Both parents must have the gene changes to happen in this form of the disease. If both parents are carriers of a mutation, each child has a 25% chance of developing the disease.

Risk factors

The biggest risk factor for contracting the disease polycystic kidney disease is to get the changes in the genes that cause the disease of one or both parents.

Complications

Complications linked to the polycystic kidney disease include:

  • The high blood pressure. This is common in polycystic kidney disease. Untreated, the high blood pressure can cause more damage to the kidneys and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
  • The loss of kidney function. The kidneys have lost their ability to do their job is one of the most serious complications of polycystic kidney disease. Nearly half of people with the condition of kidney failure by the age of 60 years. But for some people, began in the decade of the 30's.
  • Pain. It is common to have pain with polycystic kidney disease. Often the pain is on the side or back. The pain may come and go or be permanent. The pain may be linked to a hemorrhage into a cyst, an infection of the urinary tract, kidney stones, or, less often, cancer.
  • The cysts in the liver.Older people with polycystic kidney disease, the more likely it is that they are going to get the cysts in the liver. With cysts in the liver most of the times it keeps working. Women tend to get larger cysts than men. Hormones and pregnancy can be part of the reason.
  • Brain aneurysm.A balloonlike bulge in a blood vessel, called an aneurysm in the brain can cause bleeding if it bursts. People with polycystic kidney disease have an increased risk of aneurysms. People with a family history of aneurysms appear to be at higher risk. Ask your health care professional if you need an exam. If the screening test does not show an aneurysm, your health care professional may suggest the detection again in a couple of years. The time of the repetition of the detection depends on your risk.
  • Complications in pregnancy. Most people with polycystic kidney disease can have success with the pregnancy. But sometimes, you can get a life-threatening condition called pre-eclampsia during the pregnancy. Those who are at greater risk of having high blood pressure or a loss of kidney function before you become pregnant.
  • Heart valve conditions. 1 out of every 4 adults with polycystic kidney disease is presented prolapse of the mitral valve. When this happens, the heart of the valve does not close properly. This allows blood to leak backwards.
  • Diseases of the Colon. People with polycystic kidney disease can obtain weaknesses and bags or pouches called diverticula in the colon wall. This condition is known as diverticulosis. Diverticula most often do not cause symptoms, but they may bleed or become infected.

The cysts in the liver. Older people with polycystic kidney disease, the more likely it is that they are going to get the cysts in the liver. With cysts in the liver most of the times it keeps working.

Women tend to get larger cysts than men. Hormones and pregnancy can be part of the reason.

Brain aneurysm. A balloonlike bulge in a blood vessel, called an aneurysm in the brain can cause bleeding if it bursts. People with polycystic kidney disease have an increased risk of aneurysms. People with a family history of aneurysms appear to be at higher risk.

Ask your health care professional if you need an exam. If the screening test does not show an aneurysm, your health care professional may suggest the detection again in a couple of years. The time of the repetition of the detection depends on your risk.

Prevention

If you have polycystic kidney disease and you're thinking about having children, a genetic counselor can help you know your risk of transmitting the disease to their children.

Keep your kidneys healthy as possible can help prevent some of the complications of this disease. It is more important to control your blood pressure.

Here are some tips to keep your blood pressure under control:

  • Take medicines for your blood pressure to your healthcare provider who prescribed as indicated.
  • Eating a low-salt diet has plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
  • To achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
  • Exercise regularly. Try to do at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week.
  • Limit the consumption of alcohol.
  • Do not smoke.

Diagnosis

For polycystic kidney disease, certain tests can detect the size and number of kidney cysts that you have. The tests can also show how much healthy kidney tissue that you have. The tests include:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging. As we are located in the interior of a large cylinder, magnetic fields and radio waves, showing views of your kidneys. This method most of the times we used to know how bad PKD affects the kidneys, liver, or pancreas. Magnetic resonance imaging can help to measure the total renal volume, which helps health professionals know more about your condition.
  • Ultrasound. This involves the placement of a wandlike device called a transducer in your body. Emits sound waves that go back to the transducer. A computer converts the sound waves into images of your kidneys.
  • Computed tomography. You lie on a table that is going to be a large, doughnut-shaped device. The device uses X-rays to show images of your kidneys.

Treatment

How bad polycystic kidney disease is varies from person to person. This is true even among people of the same family. Often, people with polycystic kidney disease get the final stage of kidney disease between the ages of 55 and 65 years. But some people with this disease have a mild illness. Could never reach the final stage of kidney disease.

The treatment of the polycystic kidney disease involves dealing with the following symptoms and complications in their early stages:

  • Kidney cyst growth.Medicine tolvaptan (Jynarque, Samsca) can be used for adults at risk of ADPKD that is quickly getting worse. Tolvaptan is a pill that you swallow that slows the rapid renal cysts grow. It also slows down the decline in how well your kidneys are working. Tolvaptan carries a serious risk of liver injury. And it may interact with other medicines that you take. It is best to consult a specialist in the health of the kidney, called a nephrologist. A nephrologist can see by the side effects and potential complications of the medicine.
  • The high blood pressure.Keeping high blood pressure under control can slow the disease and kidney damage. Eat low-sodium, low-fat diet, moderate in protein and calories and drinking more fluids can help to control blood pressure. Other helpful lifestyle changes include not smoking, move more, and relieve stress. Smoking can greatly harm the kidneys. You can also accelerate the onset of renal failure. The drugs most often are needed to control high blood pressure. Medicines called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (arbs) are often used to control high blood pressure.
  • The loss of kidney function. To help your kidneys stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible, the experts suggest that being at a healthy weight, and body mass index. Drink water and other fluids throughout the day can help slow the growth of kidney cysts. This could slow the loss of kidney function. Eating a low-salt diet with less protein could stop the cysts in the kidneys to respond better to the more fluids.
  • Pain.You might be able to control the pain of polycystic kidney disease with medicines available without a prescription, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Do not take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve). The long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can affect how your kidneys work. For worst pain, a health professional may use a needle to remove fluid from the cyst and put on a medication to reduce the renal cysts. The medication is called a sclerosing agent. Or you may need surgery to remove the cysts if they are large enough to cause pressure and pain. The surgery is called a cyst fenestration.
  • Bladder or kidney infections. The treatment of the infections quickly with antibiotics can help prevent kidney damage. You could have a simple infection of the bladder or of a complicated cyst or a kidney infection. For more complicated infections, you may need to take antibiotics.
  • Blood in the urine.Drink plenty of fluids as soon as you notice blood in your urine. It is best to drink water to dilute the urine. This could help to prevent the formation of blood clots in your urinary tract. Most of the times, the bleeding stops on its own. If not, call your health care professional.
  • The renal failure.The kidneys may stop removing wastes and excess fluids from the blood. Then you need dialysis or a kidney transplant. That is why you need to see your health care team regularly. You may be able to have a kidney transplant before their kidneys do not work well. Then you do not need to have dialysis. This is called preemptive kidney transplantation.
  • The aneurysms.If you have polycystic kidney disease and a family history of brain aneurysms that broke out, your care team may want to perform regular examinations of the cerebral aneurysms. If you have an aneurysm, surgical clipping may reduce the risk of bleeding. This depends on the size of the aneurysm. The non-surgical treatment of small aneurysms may involve the control of high blood pressure and high cholesterol in the blood, as well as quitting smoking.

Kidney cyst growth. Medicine tolvaptan (Jynarque, Samsca) can be used for adults at risk of ADPKD that is quickly getting worse. Tolvaptan is a pill that you swallow that slows the rapid renal cysts grow. It also slows down the decline in how well your kidneys are working.

Tolvaptan carries a serious risk of liver injury. And it may interact with other medicines that you take. It is best to consult a specialist in the health of the kidney, called a nephrologist. A nephrologist can see by the side effects and potential complications of the medicine.

The high blood pressure. Keeping high blood pressure under control can slow the disease and kidney damage. Eat low-sodium, low-fat diet, moderate in protein and calories and drinking more fluids can help to control blood pressure.

Other helpful lifestyle changes include not smoking, move more, and relieve stress. Smoking can greatly harm the kidneys. You can also accelerate the onset of renal failure.

The drugs most often are needed to control high blood pressure. Medicines called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (arbs) are often used to control high blood pressure.

Pain. You might be able to control the pain of polycystic kidney disease with medicines available without a prescription, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Do not take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve). The long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can affect how your kidneys work.

For worst pain, a health professional may use a needle to remove fluid from the cyst and put on a medication to reduce the renal cysts. The medication is called a sclerosing agent.

Or you may need surgery to remove the cysts if they are large enough to cause pressure and pain. The surgery is called a cyst fenestration.

Blood in the urine. Drink plenty of fluids as soon as you notice blood in your urine. It is best to drink water to dilute the urine. This could help to prevent the formation of blood clots in your urinary tract.

Most of the times, the bleeding stops on its own. If not, call your health care professional.

The renal failure. The kidneys may stop removing wastes and excess fluids from the blood. Then you need dialysis or a kidney transplant. That is why you need to see your health care team regularly.

You may be able to have a kidney transplant before their kidneys do not work well. Then you do not need to have dialysis. This is called preemptive kidney transplantation.

The aneurysms. If you have polycystic kidney disease and a family history of brain aneurysms that broke out, your care team may want to perform regular examinations of the cerebral aneurysms.

If you have an aneurysm, surgical clipping may reduce the risk of bleeding. This depends on the size of the aneurysm. The non-surgical treatment of small aneurysms may involve the control of high blood pressure and high cholesterol in the blood, as well as quitting smoking.

Early treatment offers the best chance to slow the progression of polycystic kidney disease.

Coping and support

Have polycystic kidney disease may feel hard to bear. The support of friends and family can help you cope with the fact that they have the condition. Also, talk with a counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist or member of the clergy can help.

You can also join a support group. For some people, support groups, can have useful information about the treatments and coping. And be with people who know what's going to happen, it can make you feel less alone.

Ask your health care team about support groups in your area.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your primary health care provider. Then you may be referred to a specialist in the health of the kidney, called a nephrologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do in advance, such as fasting before certain tests. Make a list of:

  • Its symptoms, including those that do not appear to be linked to the reason of his appointment, and when they began.
  • All the drugs, vitamins, and other supplements that you are taking, including the dosage.
  • Your and your family's medical history. Be sure to include any history of kidney conditions.
  • Questions to ask your care team.

Have a family member or friend with you if you can. Someone who goes with you can help you remember the information that is obtained.

For polycystic kidney disease, questions include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • There are other possible causes of the symptoms?
  • What tests do I need?
  • How bad is my condition? Do you have an idea of when I will get to the renal failure or the need for a kidney transplant or dialysis?
  • It is this condition is likely to go away or last for a long time?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • What can I do to keep my cystic disease from getting worse?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • I need to restrict my diet or activities?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you suggest?

Be sure to ask all the questions that you have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care team is likely to ask you questions, such as:

  • Do you always have symptoms, or the symptoms come and go?
  • Nothing seems to make your symptoms better or worse?
  • Do you know what your blood pressure normally is?
  • Have your kidney function measured?
Symptoms and treatment of Polycystic kidney disease