The Overview of ADPKD

What is autosomal dominant PKD?

Autosomal dominant PKD is the most common inherited disorder of the kidneys. The phrase "autosomal dominant" means that if one parent has the disease, there is a 50 percent chance that the disease gene will pass to a child. In some cases-perhaps 10 percent-autosomal dominant PKD occurs spontaneously in patients. In these cases, neither of the parents carries a copy of the disease gene.

What are the symptoms of autosomal dominant PKD?

The most common symptoms are pain in the back and the sides-between the ribs and hips-andheadaches. The pain can be temporary or persistent, mild or severe.
People with autosomal dominant PKD also can experience the following complications:

urinary tract infections-specifically, in the kidney cysts
hematuria-blood in the urine
liver and pancreatic cysts
Abnormal heart valves
high blood pressure
kidney stones
aneurysms-bulges in the walls of blood vessels-in the brain

diverticulosis-small pouches bulge outward through the colon