polycystic kidney disease

What is polycystic kidney disease and how is it treated?

It is a kidney illness called polycystic kidney disease (PKD) that is characterized by the formation of cysts in and around the kidney. The kidneys can be affected if there are an excessive number or size of cysts. Kidney function degrades when PKD cysts gradually replace kidney tissue, eventually leading to renal failure.

Is there a risk that someone will get polycystic kidney disease?

Approximately one in every 5,000 people is affected by cystic kidney disease, which is a hereditary illness. Diseases that run in families tend to run in the autosomal dominant rather than the autosomal recessive vein. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) affects around one in every 500 to 1,000 people, whereas 1 in 20,000 to 40,000 people are affected with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease

What are the different organs that are impacted by polycystic kidney disease and how does it manifest itself?

People with PKD are susceptible to developing cysts in the liver, pancreas, spleen, ovaries, and large intestine. Cysts in these organs are normally harmless, but they can pose a major threat to some individuals. People with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) may experience cardiac or neurological complications. If Parkinson’s disease (PKD) affects the brain, an aneurysm may develop. The rupture of an aneurysm might result in a stroke or even death if the blood vessel that is supporting it becomes too large to maintain the aneurysm.

This hereditary illness is classified into two types: autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease. 

The major signs of polycystic kidney disease:

  • a high pulse rate
  • Pain in the back or side
  • Urine with blood in it
  • feeling sluggish or bloated
  • Increased abdominal size owing to kidney enlargement
  • Headaches
  • Stones in the kidneys
  • Failure of the kidneys

The following are some of the many distinct causes of polycystic kidney disease to be aware of:

PKD is an inheritable condition. In most cases, PKD is a direct result of a parent’s or both parents’ genes. People of any gender, age, race, ethnicity, or nationality might be affected by PKD. People who have PKD or who possess the gene that causes it are more likely to develop the condition or to carry the gene if they have a blood family who has the disease. A “carrier” is someone who carries the PKD gene but does not exhibit any signs of the disease. 

In this section, we will discuss the diagnostic techniques that are used to determine polycystic kidney disease:

Cystic kidney disease can be diagnosed using a variety of tests, some of which are listed below.

Ultrasound: 

A transducer, a wand-like instrument, is put on your body during an ultrasound. Similar to sonar, the transducer receives a reflection of the sound waves it emits. Sound waves reflected from your kidneys are converted into visuals by a computer.

MRI Scan: 

A cross-sectional image of your kidneys is created while you are lying within a big cylinder.

When it comes to polycystic kidney disease, there are a variety of treatment options available, including:

It is possible that some patients with PKD will never advance to end-stage kidney disease since their condition is modest.

Early treatment for polycystic kidney disease must address the following signs, symptoms, and complications:

High blood pressure management:

The progression of the disease can be slowed by controlling excessive blood pressure.

A decline in kidney function:

Maintaining a kidney function and healthy weight is recommended to keep your kidneys healthy for as long as feasible (body mass index).

Pain due to the condition:

Over-the-counter drugs may help you manage the pain associated with bilateral polycystic kidney disease. However, the discomfort can be more intense and persistent for certain people. To decrease kidney cysts, your doctor may suggest a polycystic kidney disease treatment in which a needle is used to remove cyst fluid and a substance is injected. If the cysts are large enough to cause pain and pressure, they may need to be removed surgically.

Nagging discomfort, dull pain, or sharp stabbing pain are all common descriptions. Standing or walking makes it worse, and you may be able to pinpoint the source of the problem pretty precisely. As a result of the prevalence of liver cysts in people with ADPKD, many of them go unnoticed. There are various treatment options of the condition to manage it and reach out immediately for help.

 

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