Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is an inherited genetic disorder. Some people are never diagnosed because PKD can be present with no symptoms, and can live their entire life without knowing they have the disease. However, if the cysts enlarges, they may cause many complications, some of which maybe life-threatening. Then how can a person know he or she has this kind of kidney disease?

If there is no symptoms, you can ask whether someone in your family has ever had PKD, and have a test to make sure you do not get this disease.

Diagnosis may include:

►Your body fluids may be tested. This can be done with:

Blood tests

Urine tests

►Images may be taken of your body structures. This can be done with:

Ultrasound

CT scan

MRI scan

Ten to forty percent of patients with PKD also have an aneurysm in the brain. An aneurysm is a weakness in the wall of a blood vessel. If you are diagnosed with PKD and have a family history of a brain aneurysm, your doctor may advise an arteriogram to detect the presence of an aneurysm.

Common symptoms that may occur in PKD

► Back pain: It is the most commonly seen symptom of PKD. It happens because the cyst enlarges and begins to compress the tissues. Sometime times the pain occurs in the flank or the sides.

► High blood pressure: It is also due to the growth of cysts. The blood vessels in kidneys are oppressed, resulting in the decreased blood volume in some parts of the kidney. The receptor gets this sign and stimulates the kidney to produce more renin, raising the angiotensin concentration, which is related to high blood pressure. Therefore, the whole body’s blood pressure elevates.

► Hematuria: It means that the blood color is present red, dark-colored (brown), because there are red blood cells in the urine. This condition happens when the blood vessels of the cyst wall are broken, and red blood cells leak out with urine.

These are the common symptoms of PKD, and there are also some other complications if the other organs are affected. If you are feeling discomfortable, you should talk with your doctor immediately, or you can consult our experts online.