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Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

What is PKD?

PKD happens to a kidney when fluid filled cysts form on the inside of the kidney. It prevents the kidney from carrying out its's major function which can eventually lead to kidney failure.

Symptoms of PKD are:

  • High Blood pressure

  • Side or back pain

  • Blood in urine

  • Constant fullness in the belly

  • Belly increased in size from enlarged kidneys 

  • Headaches

  • Kidney stones

  • Kidney failure 

  • Infections 

What does it effect?

In Canada PKD is the 4th leading cause of end-stage renal disease. It usually effects the kidneys as fluid filled cysts grow and make the kidneys larger, expanding them. Sometimes it can also effect the liver and cause cysts to form there. 

Cause and diagnosis 

PKD is usually passed down through genetics and can not necessary be "caught". A person is usualy born with PKD but the symptoms and signs do not appear until later in life.

It is diagnosed through lab testing and imaging. 

(Leyson-Azuela)

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