Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a genetic disease characterized by the
numerous cysts on the kidneys. In the early stage, it has no obvious symptoms.
However, as the cysts enlarge, it will damage the normal renal function and
cause a series of complications.
1. Hypertension
As the cysts enlarge, they will oppress the renal tissues thus causing renal
anoxia. As a result, more rennin is secreted, which can cause patients’ blood
pressure to rise. If patients can not control their blood pressure in time, it
will cause much damage to their renal function. Moreover, it can increase the
risk of suffering heart disease for patients.
2. Renal function declines
As the cysts enlarge, they will oppress the normal nephron thus causing the
renal function to decline. Nearly half of patients with PKD will have Kidney
Failure by age of 60. If patients have hematuria, proteinuria or hypertension,
these factors can increase the risk of Kidney Failure.
As their renal function declines, their kidney loses their normal filtration
function. As a result, much toxins and wastes that is produced by body will
accumulate in body. If patients can not treat the disease in time, the disease
will develop into end stage renal failure. At that time, the patients have to
depend on dialysis or kidney transplant to prolong their life.
3. Growth of cysts in other organs.
Many patients with PKD will have cysts in other organs such as liver and
spleen. This phenomenon is more common among women with the disease.
4. Aneurysm in the brain
The incidence of aneurysm is very high among patients with PKD, especially
among patients with a family history of aneurysm. Moreover, if patients have
hypertension, it can increase their risk of getting aneurysm greatly.
5. Loin or flank pain
As the cysts grow, the patients’ kidney will also enlarge thus causing the
tension of the renal capsule increasing. As a result, the renal pedicle or the
neighboring organs of the kidney is pulled by the tension. In addition, the
fluid in the cysts make kidney much higher than before. So kidney will drop down
thus causing loin pain. Usually, patients have dull in only one or both kidneys.
However, if patients have infection, their pain will be exacerbated.
As PKD is asymptomatic in its early stage, many patients just neglect the
treatment of the disease. As a result, it causes a series of complications as
the above. Here experts from Shijiazhuang Kidney Disease Hospital remind all
patients with PKD that they should adopt treatment at once when they are
diagnosed with disease so as to prevent its complications.