Each year it is estimated that over 12 million people worldwide suffer from a common genetic disorder known as Polycystic kidney disease, PKD. As a life threatening complication, those who suffer from PKD often experience complications beginning in early adulthood but, in rare cases, kidney complications may appear in some during the first year of life.
Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder that, at present, is not curable. With the progressive and recurring development of cysts, the body’s immune system naturally begins to fight the foreign body on the kidney and, as a result, ends up destroying the natural healthy tissue of the kidneys. Ultimately, the individual who suffers from PKD will pass on from complications associated with kidney failure.
While most cases of PKD appear in adulthood, there are a few cases of live births with children suffering from PKD. In these cases, the child, generally, does not live pass the age of two. For the remaining cases of Polycystic kidney disease, the onset is generally between the age of 20 and 50 with most patients finding noticeable complications in early adulthood.
Symptoms of adult onset Polycystic kidney disease include, initially, the onset of early high blood pressure, followed by chronic urinary tract infections and even chronic headache pain. In some patients, fatigue is quite common. Kidney stones become more common as the fluid-filled cysts develop and enlarge the kidneys. In the advanced stages of PKD, the sufferer will begin to notice complications of the circulatory system, primarily due to the lack of filtering by the kidneys.
If you suffer from chronic complications of the kidneys, or experience early onset of high blood pressure, fatigue or a circulatory disorder, it may be prudent to seek the diagnostic clearance of PKD. Using blood tests and tissue samples of the kidneys, the healthcare professional can rule out a complication association with Polycystic kidney disease.
Because PKD is incurable, the treatment plan, if diagnosed, will include management of symptoms. Practicing a healthy diet, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, getting plenty of exercise and avoiding the use of cigarettes, aspirin and NSAIDs are all important to controlling the advancement of this genetic disorder. Additionally, your healthcare professional will want to begin to aggressively control the complications associated with PKD, providing treatment for hypertension, kidney infections, drain cysts as needed and treat any signs of anemia.
As with any chronic, progressive and, often, fatal condition, the key to expanding your life span will lie in the practice of healthy lifestyle and managing secondary complications that may progress a early death. When suffering from kidney complications, it is important to seek out the necessary diagnostic tools to rule out the complications of Polycystic kidney disease and, when confirmed as a complication, follow the doctor’s strict guidelines for health.
