Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic Kidney Disease Is Also Called PKD

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.

The polycystic kidney disease prognosis is not generally encouraging. PKD progresses into kidney failure in approximately 50 percent of those who have it.

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.

Polycystic kidney treatment involves identifying signs, symptoms and effects of the condition. These can include high blood pressure, pain, kidney or bladder infections, blood in the urine, and in the most serious cases, kidney failure. 

Learn more about the dangers of kidney disease
by clicking on the book cover below or

The Kidney Disease Solution