nutch_noindex
Search Icon
    Menu Button
    Stanford Children's Health
    DonateContactMyChart LoginFind a Doctor
    • Second Opinion
    • Donate
    • Contact
    • Refer a Patient
    • En Español
    • Our Locations
    • Medical Services
    • About Us
    • Research & Innovation
    • Patients & Visitors
    • For Health Professionals
    • Second Opinion
    • Donate
    • En Español
    • MyChart Login
    • Recently Visited
      • Our Locations
      • Medical Services
      • About Us
      • Research & Innovation
      • Patients & Visitors
      • For Health Professionals
      CANCEL
      • View More Results

      Loading...

      COVID-2019 Alert

      Information about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. Read the latest >

      Información sobre el coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Aprenda más >

      /nutch_noindex

       


      Polycystic Kidney Disease

      What is polycystic kidney disease (PKD)?

      Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a rare genetic disorder. It causes many cysts filled with fluid to grow in the kidneys. PKD cysts can impair how the kidneys work. It can lead to kidney failure. PKD is the fourth leading cause of kidney failure. People with PKD can also have cysts in the liver and problems in other organs, such as the heart and blood vessels in the brain.

      What are the different types of PKD?

      There are 2 main forms of PKD that are inherited :

      Autosomal dominant PKD

      Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common form of PKD. It accounts for about 90% of all PKD cases. Autosomal dominant means that if one parent has the disease, there is a 50% chance that the disease will pass to a child. Both males and females are equally affected.

      ADPKD is often diagnosed in adulthood. It used to be called adult polycystic kidney disease. Usually, at least one parent must have the disease for a child to inherit it. In 10% of cases, there may be no family history of PKD. These cases are new mutations in a family. In very few cases, ADPKD occurs suddenly after conception. Parents would not be at increased risk to have more children with PKD. But people with PKD have a 50% chance of passing the gene on to their children.

      Symptoms often start between age 30 and 40. But they can start in childhood. They may include:

      • Belly (abdominal) pain

      • Belly grows larger

      • Pale color to skin

      • Easy bruising

      • High blood pressure

      • Kidney stones

      • Brain aneurysms

      • Diverticulosis

      • Urinary tract infections

      • Blood in the urine

      • Liver and pancreatic cysts

      • Abnormal heart valves

      ADPKD may occur with other conditions such as:

      • Tuberous sclerosis (a genetic syndrome involving seizures, intellectual disability, benign tumors, and skin lesions)

      • Liver disease

      • Severe eye problems

      The symptoms of ADPKD may look like other health problems. Always check with your provider for a diagnosis.

      Diagnosis of ADPKD may include:

      • Using imaging tests to find cysts on the kidney and other organs.

      • Reviewing family history of ADPKD. There are 3 different dominant genes that have been identified. They further subdivide ADPKD into PKD1, PKD2, and PKD3.

      Your healthcare provider will figure out a treatment plan after careful consideration of symptoms and medical history. Treatment may include:

      • Pain medicine

      • Surgery to shrink cysts and ease pain

      • Treatment for high blood pressure

      • Treatment for urinary tract infections

      • Dialysis

      • Kidney transplantation

      Autosomal recessive PKD

      Autosomal recessive PKD (ARPKD) is a rare form of PKD. It is thought to be caused by a particular genetic flaw that is different from the genetic flaw that causes ADPKD. Parents who don't have the disease can have a child with the disease if both parents carry the abnormal gene and both pass the gene to their child. Carrier parents have a 25% chance with each pregnancy to have a child with this type of PKD. Males and females are equally affected.

      ARPKD is sometimes found before birth using a fetal ultrasound. Symptoms can start before birth. In most cases, the earlier symptoms start, the more severe the outcome.

      Children born with ARPKD may develop kidney failure within a few years. They often have:

      • High blood pressure

      • Urinary tract infections

      • Frequent urination

      The disease also usually affects the liver, spleen, and pancreas. This results in low blood cell counts, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids.

      The symptoms of ARPKD may look like other health problems. Always check with your child's healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

      Diagnosis often includes ultrasound imaging of the fetus or newborn to reveal cysts in the kidneys. An ultrasound exam of kidneys of relatives may also be helpful.

      Your child's healthcare provider will figure out a treatment plan for after careful consideration of the child's symptoms and medical history. Treatment may include:

      • Treatment for high blood pressure

      • Treatment for urinary tract infections

      • Hormonal therapy

      • Dialysis

      • Kidney transplant

      Related Topics

      • Neurological Exam for Children
      • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

      Related Links

      • Kidney Transplant
      • Nephrology
      nutch_noindex
      • About Us
      • Contact
      • MyChart Login
      • Careers
      • Blog
      • Refer a Patient
      • Download from App Store Download From Google Play
      • Notice of Nondiscrimination
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Code of Conduct

      © 2021 Stanford Children's Health

      About

      • About Us
      • Our Hospital
      • Patient Stories
      • Blog
      • News
      • Send a Greeting Card
      • New Hospital
      • Careers

      Connect

      • Donate
      • Refer a Patient
      • Contact Us
      • Pay Your Bill

      Find

      • Doctors
      • Locations
      • Services
      • Classes
      Download from App Store Download From Google Play

      Also Find Us on:

      • facebook
      • twitter
      • youtube
      • linkedin
      US News & World Report Badge
      • Stanford Medicine
      • Stanford University
      • Stanford Health Care
      • Lucile Packard Foundation
      • Notice of Nondiscrimination
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Code of Conduct
      • © 2021 Stanford Children's Health
      /nutch_noindex