The full form of PKD is "Polycystic Kidney Disease". PKD is a genetic disorder. There will be a structural abnormality in the renal tubules leading to the growth of multiple cysts in the kidney. Cysts are likely to develop in childhood or adulthood. Some research has also found that the disease can also begin to develop during intrauterine life.
Cysts are fluid-filled tubules that can be as small as microscopic or large. Because PKD is caused by an abnormal gene that produces a protein that has a damaging effect on the kidney's tubules, affecting its development.
Types of PKD
PKD is generally divided into 3 types:
- Autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD): This type of PKD only needs one copy of the abnormal gene to be dominant, symptoms start after 25-28 years, but can also appear in childhood. 90% of cases are ADPKD.
- Autosomal recessive PKD (ARPKD): This type of PKD is acquired through recessive inheritance. It starts during the life of the fetus and can show symptoms in the first months of life, the disease progresses quickly and is very dangerous. It is a rare form of the disorder that occurs in 1 in 20,000 people.
- Acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD): This happens in cases where there is long-term damage to the kidneys, even those on dialysis tend to develop. The main symptom is blood in the urine.
Genetic counseling is required for patients who tend to carry hereditary or genetic disorders in order to have an idea of ??the probability of passing the gene to future generations.
Symptoms and complications
Signs and symptoms include abdominal pain, blood in the urine, a rise in blood pressure, pain when urinating, and frequent urination. Some symptoms that occurred in the early stages need to be controlled in order to delay the progression of the disease itself. Example:
Bladder infections need to be treated with antibiotics to prevent further kidney damage. Controlling blood pressure is essential to prevent further damage to the kidneys, and this can be achieved by following a low-fat, low-sodium diet along with less alcohol and not smoking. When blood is noted in the urine, adequate fluid intake is recommended to prevent blood clots from forming.
The complication of the condition occurs when a patient with PKD starts developing other problems such as growth of cysts in the liver, development of aneurysm in the brain, possibility of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, heart problems, weakness or formation of pouches in the colon and chances of developing malignancy also appear .
Treatment
Since it is one of the genetic disorders, there is no FDA approved treatment for it. Certain dietary restrictions have been shown to be helpful in controlling the progression of certain types of PKD. The nephrologist decides on the course of treatment according to the progression of the disease. Treatment includes renal replacement therapy if the disease has reached end-stage disease, such as kidney failure or chronic kidney disease. This includes dialysis at different frequencies and durations. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen are recommended to manage pain caused by polycystic kidney disease.
Kidney replacement is an option if a suitable donor kidney is available. Certain precautions must be taken when treating ADPKD. Before starting treatment, the practitioner must rule out any type of allergy to drugs or food. The infection in the cysts must be controlled to prevent its spread as much as possible. The use of bacteriostatic drugs and bactericidal drugs is recommended.
As one of the common inherited disorders, it affects more than 550,000 people in the United States alone. Almost 9% to 10% of people reach the final stage. Along with humans, PKD is also known to affect animals.