Polycystic Kidney Disease

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Polycystic Kidney Disease, also known as PKD, is a common inherited gene disorder that causes the growth of cysts in the tissues of both the kidneys. The kidneys are a major organ in the excretory system; they remove wastes from the blood and form of urine. They filter the blood, keeping it clean of all wastes and have a number of other functions as well. Due to the growth of cysts on the kidneys it makes it hard to carry out these functions and the will eventually cause the kidneys to fail. This paper will discuss what PKD is, the many symptoms and treatments of PKD, and recent developments in research of this disease.

Polycystic Kidney Disease

Description and Affects

Polycystic Kidney Disease, often referred to as PKD, is a genetic disorder passed down through families and involving bilateral renal cysts, usually without abnormality. The kidneys are located in the upper part of the abdomen, toward the back, and about the size of one’s fist. They filter waste and unneeded fluid from the blood and form urine. When cysts form in or on the kidneys they fill with fluid and become enlarged. The enlargement of the kidneys will result in decreased function and eventually kidney failure. There are two major forms of PKD, autosomal dominant (ADPKD) and autosomal recessive (ARPKD). Both of these can involve the presence of renal cysts at any time during an affected person’s life, from prenatal stages into adulthood.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common inherited kidney disease. This type is passed from parent to child by an autosomal dominant type of inheritance. This means that only one copy of the abnormal gene is needed to cause the disease. Therefore, if one p...

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...r a period of time, like blood pressure and quality of life, in order to better understand the course of the disease. No drugs are given, but other types of interventions are made during the time of the study. Interventional studies also monitor and record various factors over a period of time while testing experimental treatments, devices or combinations of drugs to see if the disease outcome is altered.

Works Cited

Mayo Clinic Staff, “Polycystic Kidney Disease”. 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2011 from Mayo

Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polycystic-kidney-disease/DS00245

Polycystic Kidney Disease. 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2011 from Pub Med Health:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001531

Roser, T MD, PhD, “Polycystic Kidney Disease”. 2010. Retrieved March 4, 2011 from

emedicine: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/244907-diagnosis

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