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Polycystic Kidney Disease

  • Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder in which the renal tubules become structurally abnormal, resulting in the development and growth of multiple cysts within the kidney.

  • These cysts may begin to develop before birth or in infancy, in childhood, or in adulthood.

  • Cysts are non-functioning tubules filled with fluid pumped into them, which range in size from microscopic to enormous, crushing adjacent normal tubules and eventually rendering them non-functional also.

There are 2 types of PKD.

  1. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

  2. Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD).

  1. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)

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Signs and symptoms of ADPKD often develop between the ages of 30 and 40. In the past, this type was called adult polycystic kidney disease, but children can develop this disorder.

2. Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD)

This type is far less common than ADPKD. The signs and symptoms often appear shortly after birth. Sometimes, symptoms don't appear until later in childhood or during adolescence.

Symptoms

  • High blood pressure

  • Back or side pain

  • Headache

  • A feeling of fullness in your abdomen

  • Increased size of your abdomen due to enlarged kidneys

  • Blood in your urine

  • Loss of kidney function

  • Pregnancy complications (women may develop a life-threatening disorder called preeclampsia)

  • Growth of cysts in the liver

  • Development of an aneurysm in the brain

  • Heart valve abnormalities

  • Colon problems

Diagnosis

​​​PKD can be diagnosed by:

  • Ultrasound

  • CT scan

  • MRI scan

Treatment

Complications

It is symptomatic relief.

  • Control High blood pressure

  • Relieve pain

  • Treat Bladder or kidney infections

  • Treat Kidney failure

Hesham Abdelfattah
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