How to diagose Autosomal Dominant PKD? In the early stage, very few symptoms
can be found by patients. Only through checking, cysts may be found out.
Autosomal Polycystic Kidney Disease is usually diagnosed by some imaging
examinations. The most common imaging examination of testing kidney is
ultrasound. Other precise studies, such as computerized tomography (CT) or
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are also widely used.
Kidney imaging results can be different according to patient’s age. Younger
patients usually have both fewer and smaller cysts. Therefore, doctors have
developed a specific criterion to diagnose the disease with kidney imaging tests
as well as patient age. For example, if the there are at least two cysts in each
kidney at age 30 with a family history, this patient can be diagnosed as
autosomal dominant PKD. If there is any question about the diagnosis, a family
history of autosomal dominant PKD and cysts found in other organs make the
diagnosis more likely.
In most cases of autosomal dominant PKD, patients have no symptoms in the
early stage and their physical condition is also normal. This usually makes
patients pay less attention on it and some people live for many years without
knowing they have autosomal dominant PKD.
Once cysts grow to about one-half inch, diagnosis is possible with imaging
technology. Ultrasound imaging does not use any injected dyes or radiation and
is safe for all patients, including pregnant women. It can also detect cysts in
the kidneys of a fetus, but large cyst growth this early in life is
uncommon.
More powerful and expensive imaging procedures such as CT scans and MRI also
can detect cysts. Recently, MRI has been used to measure kidney and cysts volume
and monitor kidney and cyst growth, which may be considered as a way of tracking
the progression of the disease.
Diagnosis can also be made with a genetic test. Although this test can detect
autosomal dominant PKD before large cysts develop, its usefulness is limited by
two factors: detection of a disease gene cannot predict the onset of symptoms or
ultimate severity of the disease, and if a disease gene is detected, no specific
prevention or cure for the disease exists. However, a young person who knows of
a PKD gene mutation may be able to forestall the loss of kidney function through
diet and blood pressure control.
Gene problem can not be changed, but if PKD patients can be tested out this
disease in an early stage, PKD can be controlled effectively by preventing cysts
further growth and shrinking cysts. Then PKD patients can live a normal life as
others. If you need more information about PKD, you can consult us online or
email to kidney-treatment@hotmail.com.