What is polycystic kidney disease?

by Rahul Kumar Health and Medical

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic medical disorder that causes the growth of cysts in the kidneys preventing them to function properly.

 

Cysts are fluid-filled growths that usually develop in the kidneys. Since it is a genetic disorder in nature, one has to have a mutated (changed) gene in order to get it.

 

Simple kidney cysts may cause much less harm, but PKD can be much more complicated and is a severe form of chronic kidney disease. There may be enlargement of kidneys and prevented from filtering out the waste out of the blood. PKD can also lead to kidney failure at a later stage. 

 

Diagnosis of Polycystic kidney disease

 

Ultrasound is considered to be the most reliable and inexpensive way to diagnose PKD.  The risk of having PKD is minimum for a person who is more than 40 years of age. An MRI and a CT scan can be used to detect smaller cysts that can otherwise not be spotted by an ultrasound. To monitor and measure the volume and growth of kidneys and cysts, MRI is extremely important.

 

Sometimes the doctor may also suggest that genetic testing be done. A blood test can be done to keep a check for abnormal genes that may lead to the disease. Since genetic testing fails to detect PKD in about 15% of people having it and is also costly, it is not recommended for everyone.

 

However, genetic testing can prove to be useful if :- 

●     There is a medical history of PKD in the patient’s family.

 

●     There is an uncertain diagnosis based on imaging tests.

 

●     The person is less than 30 years of age with negative ultrasound and a family background of PKD and is planning to begin a family. 

 

Polycystic kidney disease and kidney failure 

Polycystic kidney disease cause kidney failure in every case. Data suggests that about 50 percent of people with PKD become prone to kidney failure by the age of 60 while about 60 percent of people go through the same by the age of 70. The life expectancy for someone with Polycystic kidney disease thus usually varies between the age of 60-70. Dialysis or a kidney transplant is the ideal choice for people with kidney failure.

 

Some people have a higher risk of kidney failure. They include-

 

●     Men

●     High blood pressure patients

●     Women suffering from high blood pressure who’ve gone through more than three pregnancies

●     Patients who find protein or blood in their urine 

 

Types of polycystic kidney disease

 

The three main types of Polycystic kidney disease include-

 

1.   Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease:

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is also known as adult PKD and it is a very common type of PKD. If the person’s parent has a PKD, then the chances of him inheriting the condition are 50%.

 

The symptoms may start to show much later in life, usually between the ages of 30 and 40. However, records suggest that some people may also experience these symptoms as early as in childhood.

 

 

2.   Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease:

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is also an inherited condition if both parents carry the gene for the disease. It is rare.

 

Symptoms may not get developed by the carriers of ARPKD  if they carry only one gene. The person can only catch ARPKD if he inherits the genes from both parents

 

There are further four types of ARPKD:

●   Perinatal form- present at birth

●   Neonatal form- occurs right after birth

●   Infantile form- occurs between the age of 3-12 months old

●   Juvenile form- occurs after the age of 1 year old

 

3.    Acquired cystic kidney disease:

Acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD) is usually not inherited. It usually occurs late in life.

 

ACKD may be dominant in people with other kidney problems. The most common cases are of people who have kidney failure or are on dialysis. 

 

Symptoms and Complications of PKD

 

People may be living with PKD for years without experiencing symptoms. Before the symptoms show up, the cysts typically grow 0.5 inches or larger.

 

Early symptoms of PKD include-

 

●     Frequent urination

●     Side pain

●     Kidney stones

●     Blood in the urine

●     Joint pain

●     Nail abnormalities

 

Children with autosomal recessive Polycystic kidney disease may experience symptoms like-

 

●     Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

●     High blood pressure

●     Frequent urination

 

Treatment for Polycystic kidney disease

To manage the symptoms and avoid complications caused by PKD, treatment is usually initiated. The most important part of the treatment is to control high blood pressure. 

The treatment options may include-

 

●     Blood pressure management

●     A low sodium diet

●     Antibiotics to treat UTIs

●     Surgery to drain cysts

 

Ayurveda treatment in polycystic kidney disease 

Ayurveda treatment in polycystic kidney disease can cure the severe medical condition. Ayurveda not just accounts for the symptoms of a disease but also caters to other factors such as conditions of mind, body, and soul. 

Ayurveda treatment in polycystic kidney disease is effective as it has no side effects on the body. The treatment procedure usually involves simple techniques and uses natural herbs to cure the disease.

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Created on Jan 22nd 2022 03:48. Viewed 285 times.

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