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June 2008
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Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is the world’s most common inherited kidney disease.
Click here to download the ADPKD Information Booklet (352Kb PDF file).
ADPKD affects between 1 in 800 and 1 in 1000 people, irrespective of gender, race or ethnic group.
If a parent has ADPKD, there is a 50% chance that each child born will inherit the disease.
The disease is characterised by numerous fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys and often the liver and pancreas.
The photo shows a PKD kidney compared with a normal kidney.
Over time, the cysts grow and multiply, replacing normal healthy tissue and causing the kidneys to lose their function. Kidneys can enlarge to 3 to 4 times their normal size.
(Photo courtesy of the PKD Foundation)
ADPKD is a progressive chronic kidney disease and incurable. There is currently no treatment that will stop the cysts developing and growing. However, a number of drugs are currently being trialled around the world that offer hope for stopping the decline of kidney function. See Research page for more information.
Symptoms vary from none to a variety of problems including pain, bleeding, infection in the urine, kidney stones and kidney failure.
Nearly two thirds of people with ADPKD will develop high blood pressure. Treating blood pressure with drugs can slow the rate at which the kidneys deteriorate. Without treatment for high blood pressure the chances of a stroke or heart problems increase. Click here for more about blood pressure.
Brain aneurysms may also affect around 8% of people with ADPKD. Patients should be screened, if there is a history of strokes in the family.
However, not everyone with ADPKD will develop kidney failure and some people may never have any problems or be unaware they have the condition.
Click here to download the ADPKD Information Booklet (352Kb PDF file).
Click here to download the ADPKD Information Booklet (352Kb PDF file).
ADPKD affects between 1 in 800 and 1 in 1000 people, irrespective of gender, race or ethnic group.
If a parent has ADPKD, there is a 50% chance that each child born will inherit the disease.
The disease is characterised by numerous fluid-
The photo shows a PKD kidney compared with a normal kidney. Over time, the cysts grow and multiply, replacing normal healthy tissue and causing the kidneys to lose their function. Kidneys can enlarge to 3 to 4 times their normal size.
(Photo courtesy of the PKD Foundation)
ADPKD is a progressive chronic kidney disease and incurable. There is currently no treatment that will stop the cysts developing and growing. However, a number of drugs are currently being trialled around the world that offer hope for stopping the decline of kidney function. See Research page for more information.
Symptoms vary from none to a variety of problems including pain, bleeding, infection in the urine, kidney stones and kidney failure.
Nearly two thirds of people with ADPKD will develop high blood pressure. Treating blood pressure with drugs can slow the rate at which the kidneys deteriorate. Without treatment for high blood pressure the chances of a stroke or heart problems increase. Click here for more about blood pressure.
Brain aneurysms may also affect around 8% of people with ADPKD. Patients should be screened, if there is a history of strokes in the family.
However, not everyone with ADPKD will develop kidney failure and some people may never have any problems or be unaware they have the condition.
Click here to download the ADPKD Information Booklet (352Kb PDF file).
