Learn About Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease(ADPKD)

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common forms of polycystic kidney disease.If one parent has the disease, there is a 50 percent chance that the disease gene will pass to a child.

Many people with autosomal dominant PKD live for several decades without developing symptoms. For this reason, autosomal dominant PKD is often called "adult polycystic kidney disease." Yet, in some cases, cysts may form earlier in life and grow quickly, causing symptoms in childhood.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease characterized by the following:

1.Bilateral renal cysts

2.Cysts in other organs including the liver, seminal vesicles, pancreas, and arachnoid membrane

3.Extrarenal abnormalities including intracranial aneurysms and dolichoectasias, dilatation of the aortic root and dissection of the thoracic aorta, mitral valve prolapse, and abdominal wall hernias

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease(ADPKD) is usually an adult-onset condition. This means that many people with ADPKD live for decades without developing symptoms of renal functional decline. People who have ADPKD have renal cysts in both kidneys and may also develop cysts in other organs such as the liver and pancreas; abnormalities of blood vessels such as high blood pressure intracranial and aortic aneurysms, heart valve defects , and abdominal wall hernias. Hypertension is the most common problem as a result of ADPKD.

The outlook in cases of ADPKD can be highly variable. Some people experience kidney failure soon after the condition is diagnosed.

Others may live the rest of their life with their kidneys working relatively well.