Polycystic kidney disease
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a progressive, genetic disorder of the kidneys. It occurs in humans and other animals. PKD is characterized by the presence of multiple cysts (polycystic) in both kidneys. The disease can also damage the liver, pancreas and rarely the heart and brain.
Initial human symptoms are hypertension, fatigue and mild pain and urinary tract infections. The disease can lead to total loss of kidney function - chronic renal failure and end stage renal disease (ESRD).
The disease exists both in an autosomal recessive and an autosomal dominant form. The recessive form, called ARPKD (autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease) is the less common variant, which occurs in childhood and can be severe. The second type, called ADPKD (autosomal dominant PKD or "Adult-onset PKD") is much more common but less severe.
