What is Polycystic Kidney Disease?
Polycystic kidney disease, also known as PKD, is a genetic disorder. Clusters of cysts form within the kidneys, causing enlarged kidneys and loss of kidney function. The cysts can grow large over time, and the formation of too many cysts can cause kidney damage.
Signs and Symptoms of Polycystic Kidney Disease
There are many common signs and symptoms which could indicate PKD. Some of the most common signs and symptoms include:
- Having high blood pressure
- Experiencing headaches
- Experiencing pain in your side or back
- Forming kidney stones
- Noticing blood in your urine
- Feeling fullness in your abdomen
- Increased size of your abdomen because of enlarged kidneys
- Experiencing frequent urinary tract or kidney infections
Late-stage polycystic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure.
How Polycystic Kidney Disease is Diagnosed
Imaging studies are used in the diagnosis of PKD, to determine the size and number of cysts. Your kidney specialist may recommend an ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI to aid in diagnosis.
How Polycystic Kidney Disease Is Treated
PKD varies in severity, and people with PKD often develop end-stage kidney disease when they are 55 to 65 years old. Some people with PKD have a mild form of the disease which may never reach the end stage. PKD treatment is designed to:
- Reduce growth of kidney cysts, with medications including Tolvaptan
- Control high blood pressure, with low sodium, low-fat diet, and taking medication to lower high blood pressure
- Enhance kidney function, by maintaining a healthy weight, drinking water, and eating less protein
- Control pain, by draining fluid from the kidneys, injecting fluid to shrink kidney cysts, or removing cysts with surgery
- Treat kidney infections, with the use of antibiotics
- Treat kidney failure, either with dialysis or a kidney transplant
Want To Know More About Polycystic Kidney Disease?
To find out more about the signs, symptoms, and treatment of polycystic kidney disease, call the kidney specialists at Consultants of Kidney Disease. You can reach them in any of their offices in Dallas, Rockwall, Rowlett, Mesquite, Royse City, Lancaster, or Plano, TX, by calling (469) 904-2020, so call today.