Definition|
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Other Names: Polycystic kidney disease, ADPKD,
PKD, PCKD, Polycystic kidney syndrome.
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney
disease is a genetic disorder in which abnormal cysts develop and grow in the
kidneys. It’s a condition that causes small, fluid-filled sacs called cysts to
develop in the kidneys.
Cysts are noncancerous round sacs containing
water-like fluid. The cysts vary in size and, as they accumulate more fluid,
they can grow very large.
Although kidneys usually are the most
severely affected organs, polycystic kidney disease can cause cysts to develop
in your liver and elsewhere in your body. The disease causes a variety of
serious complications.
In most cases, this doesn't occur until a
person is between 30 and 60 years of age. Less commonly, children or older
people may have noticeable symptoms as a result of ADPKD.
When ADPKD reaches this stage, it can cause
a wide range of problems, including:
- Abdominal (tummy) pain
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Blood in the urine (haematuria) – which may not always be noticeable to the naked eye
- Potentially serious upper urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Kidney stones
Kidney function will gradually deteriorate
until so much is lost that kidney failure occurs.
Symptoms|
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The symptoms of autosomal dominant
polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) are caused by the growth of fluid-filled sacs
(cysts) in the kidneys.
Polycystic kidney disease symptoms may
include:
- High blood pressure
- Back or side pain
- Headache
- Increase in the size of your abdomen
- Blood in your urine
- Frequent urination
- Kidney stones
- Kidney failure
- Urinary tract or kidney infections
