This week I saw several patients who were on dialysis, where an external machine filters out blood, which takes over the function of the kidneys. This process has been around for decades, and it has gone under many variations and changes to make it more efficient. The risks associated with dialysis have stayed the same as well, and even though it is rare, cysts may start to form. Polycystic Kidney Disease, or PKD, is when cysts filled with water-like fluid start to form around the outer edges of the kidneys. High blood pressure is very common with this disease.
PKD is also considered to be a genetic disorder, as it is passed down through generations. There are two main types of inherited PKD: Autosomal Dominant and Autosomal Recessive. Autosomal Dominant is never found at an early stage in life, and as a result it is diagnosed when the patient is in adulthood. This type of PKD is especially concerning because symptoms do not appear until the cysts have grown to full length. Autosomal Recessive, on the other hand, is found within the few first months of life, so treatment may begin much earlier. Either way, cysts on the kidneys can cause liver failure, cardiovascular disease, kidney stones, and blindness. All of these conditions sound very difficult to deal with, but treatment is available to weaken these symptoms. It is important for the patient to be on blood pressure medication, as high blood pressure is fairly common with this disease. Pain medication is also necessary, but strong medications such as Aleve or Advil may cause further injury, due to restricted blood flow to the kidneys. Sodium levels need to be controlled as well, as high sodium levels cause damage as well. Kidneys also grow to abnormally large sizes once this disease progresses. If they become too large to the point where renal failure becomes possible, a transplant may be needed. The kidney on the right is healthy, whereas the one on the left has several cysts, and has grown to an unhealthy size. Sources: “ADPKD.” PKD International. 26 Feb. 2017 <http://www.pkdinternational.org/what-is-pkd/adpkd/>. "Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) | NIDDK." National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Web. 26 Feb. 2017. <https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/polycystic-kidney-disease>.
1 Comment
Raylene Streuber
2/28/2017 07:37:25 pm
Oh my goodness- that photograph is a shocking visual. Thank you for bringing awareness to this condition!
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AuthorMuhammad Ali Archives
May 2017
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