As everyone knows, polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic kidney
disease. The disease is usually divided into adult PKD and children PKD (also
known as autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease). So, how can we prevent
PKD and how can we find it early?
Adult PKD is also called autosomal dominant genetic PKD. It usually attacks
at the age of 30-50. Adult PKD is more common in clinical practices, it occurs
in 1/1000-2/1000 individuals and accounts for 5-10 percent of end-stage renal
failure.
Patients usually have bilateral renal enlargement, cortex and medullas with
multiple liquid cysts which increase continuously and secondary renal function
damage. The disease can involve many systems, such as digestive system,
cardiovascular and cerebrovascular system, central nervous system, reproductive
system, and accordingly cause cyst in liver and in spleen, intracranial
aneurysm, abnormality of cardiac valves and etc. But according to the latest
research, PKD may attack at any time, including the fetal period.
How to prevent PKD and how to find it early? Can Adult PKD be prevented? Many
years’ studies and practice have proven that PKD can be prevented and there are
several points for us to pay attention to:
Firstly, pay attention to take premarital B ultrasonic examination,
especially those whose parents are PKD patients. And avoid the marriage of
couples both with this disease, for which can increase the incidence of the next
generation;
Secondly, PKD patients should take a ‘Cyst Gene Check’ in the 10th week of
pregnancy by taking out some amniotic liquid or villus cells as sample.
Because the disease has the regular of 50 percent heredity for people whose
one parent has PKD, the molecular genetics examination can help the family with
PKD choose a healthy baby, what’s more, this baby won’t carry the genetic gene
any more which will influence the offspring.
How to prevent PKD and how to find it early? Adult PKD belongs to autosomal
dominant inheritance, which means the probability of getting the disease in male
and in female is equal; if either parent has the disease, 50 percent of their
children will have the cyst gene and have the disease. If both of the parents
have the disease, the probability will increase to 75 percent. Children without
the disease are not the carrier of cyst gene, so their children (the
grandchildren) won’t have this disease, that is to say reversion will not occur.
If you have more questions, please contact us!