Polycystic Kidney Disease: The Genetic Kidney Disease Problem

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is generally described as the appearance of numerous cysts in the kidneys. This kidney problem is a genetic disorder of the kidneys. The cysts formed in the kidneys are filled with fluid and enlarge the kidneys. This replaces most of the kidneys natural shape causing the regular functions to slow down and ultimately leads to kidney failure. If polycystic kidney disease causes your kidneys to fail, you will need to dialysis or undergo kidney transplantation. Untreated, not only do the kidneys start to fail but cysts may also develop in the liver and in blood vessels of the brain and heart.

Cysts can form in clusters, and the exact reason for their formation is unknown. As the cysts grow they cause swelling of the kidney, which decreases function and may be associated with kidney infections and high blood pressure.

There are two forms of PKD: Autosomal Dominant and Autosomal Recessive. The more common of the two is Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) and this usually develops in patients between the ages of 30 and 40 years old. However it is possible for PCKD to develop in childhood. Almost 90 per cent of all diagnoses of PKD are autosomal dominant. The rarer of the two diseases, Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD), begins earlier in life, appearing in infancy or childhood.

Symptoms of PCKD include pain in the area of the kidneys; due to stretching of the kidneys as a result of cyst growth, kidney infections, abdominal pain and tenderness, blood in the urine, and headaches. Headaches may be due to high blood pressure, which is a common result of PCKD.

Medications that may be prescribed include those for regulating blood pressure, and antibiotics to control urinary tract infections where appropriate. However these do not resolve the problem, and can place further burden on the body. The use of natural therapies and dietary intervention can be far more beneficial for your kidneys. Eating the appropriate foods helps provide your body with the essential nutrients required for the kidneys to perform their filtering function. Though this may be limited because of the cysts and the swelling, it can help to relieve some of the more painful symptoms of the disease and improve kidney function as much as possible.