General Introduction about Polycystic Kidney Disease

2014-06-16 01:55

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the most common gingle gene genetic kidney disease. From the research of Occident, PKD is the fourth cause of end-stage kidney failure. But most of the people don’t know this disease, so they are scared when they found they have PKD from the CT scan. In this article, we will have a general introduction about the PKD.

The genetic background of PKD:

ADPKD is the most common PKD for people, and they often be found in adults. The ADPKD, which is shorted for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, can be caused by two reasons, which are PKD1 and PKD 2. PKD1 gene located on chromosome 16 short arm (16 p13. 3), its coding protein called polycystic protein 1 (polycystin - 1). PKD1 gene mutations cause ADPKD accounted for 85% ~ 90%. PKD2 located in chromosome 4 long arm (4 q22) and its coding protein called polycystic protein 2 (polycysti - 2). PKD2 mutations accounted for 5% ~ 15%. PKD1 gene mutations caused by polycystic kidney disease, the age in clinical manifestations and renal failure than PKD2 mutations caused by more than a decade earlier.

Clinical symptoms of PKD:

About 85% of the ADPKD patients will have family history. For PKD patients, the most common symptoms are back pain, side pain or abdomen pain. If the pain worsens at one time, it ma be caused by the kidney cyst rupture or infections.

About 60% of the ADPKD patients will have gross hematuria or microscopic hematuria, which will worsen after the strenuous exercises, infections, etc.

High blood pressure is one of the common clinical symptom for ADPKD patients, and about 60%-90% patients will have high blood pressure.

Besides, abdominal mass is a common sign for ADPKD patients, and most of the ADPKD patients will have a big belly.

In general, ADPKD patients will have kidney damage among the age of 20-60, and after 60 years old, about 50% of the ADPKD patients will develop into end stage kidney failure.

Control the high blood pressure in ADPKD:

High blood pressure is the most common and early symptom for PKD patients, and whether the blood pressure can be controlled well will affect the prognosis.

Above are the general introduction about PKD. If you are just diagnosed with PKD, please don’t worry. You need to find a nephrologist who can help you to have early treatment, and the illness condition can be controlled well. If you still have any questions, or you want to find the best doctor for PKD, you can leave a message below, our experts will answer you within 24 hours.

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