Polycystic Kidney Disease

📖What is Polycystic Kidney Disease?

Polycystic kidney disease is an inherited disorder in which numerous fluid-filled cysts develop within the kidneys, gradually enlarging them and progressively impairing their ability to function normally. The condition is caused by specific genetic mutations passed down within families, with the more common form typically not causing significant symptoms until adulthood, while a rarer, more severe form can affect infants and young children. As the cysts grow in number and size over the years, they gradually replace healthy kidney tissue, and by mid-to-late adulthood many affected individuals progress to chronic kidney disease and eventually kidney failure. Beyond the kidneys, the condition can also cause cysts to develop in other organs such as the liver, and is associated with an increased risk of certain complications such as brain aneurysms. While there is no cure, treatment can slow cyst growth and manage complications, and genetic counselling is valuable for affected families.

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