Polycystic Kidney Disease
Unfortunately, the major cause of polycystic kidney disease or PKD is is heredity. You either inherit the gene
defect or you don't.
Polycystic kidney disease is the most common inherited disease in the United States.
Polycystic kidney disease results from the growth of cysts filled with fluid in the kidneys. As these cysts accumulate, they begin to replace or displace healthy tissue, which
compromises kidney function. Additionally, it sometimes causes a ripple effect of problems in other organs,
including the liver and the blood vessels in the heart and brain.
Polycystic kidney disease cysts can slowly replace much of the mass of the kidneys, reducing kidney function and
leading to kidney failure.
Cysts can also become infected and painful.
However, polycystic kidney disease progresses into kidney failure in approximately 50 percent of those who have
it.
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