Polycystic kidney disease

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Kidney and liver cysts - CT scan

Liver and spleen cysts - CT scan

Cysts - kidneys; Kidney - polycystic; Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease; ADPKD

Currently, no treatment can prevent the cysts from forming or enlarging. Treatment goals are the reduction of symptoms and prevention of complications.

Hypertension may be difficult to control, but control of it is the most important aspect of treatment. Treatment may include antihypertensive and/or diuretic medications, low-salt diet, or other treatments.

Any urinary tract infection should be treated promptly with appropriate antibiotics.

Any symptoms of anemia may be treated with iron and other supplements, erythropoietin administration, or blood transfusion.

Surgical or radiologic drainage of cysts may be indicated because of pain, bleeding, infection, or obstruction. (There are usually too many cysts to make removal a feasible alternative.)

Surgical removal of one or both kidneys may be required. Treatment of end-stage kidney disease may include kidney dialysis or kidney transplantation.

The stress of illness can often be helped by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems. See kidney disease - support group.

Polycystic kidney disease progresses slowly but persistently. Medical treatment may provide relief of symptoms for many years. Eventual end-stage kidney failure is common.

The absence of systemic disease or autoimmune disease makes people with polycystic kidney disease good candidates for kidney transplantation.

• High blood pressure
• Anemia
• Recurrent urinary tract infection
• Recurrent kidney infection
• Kidney stones
• Kidney failure, mild to severe
• End-stage kidney disease
• Bleeding or rupture of cysts
• Infection of liver cysts
• Liver failure, mild to severe

Call your health care provider if symptoms indicate polycystic kidney disease may be present.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if there is a family history of polycystic kidney disease or associated disorders and children are planned. Genetic counseling may be offered because of the pattern of inheritance of the disorder.

Review Date: 09/13/2005
Reviewed By: Robert Mushnick, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, SUNY Downstate Health Center, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.