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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffPolycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a disorder in which clusters of cysts develop primarily within your kidneys. Cysts are noncancerous round sacs containing water-like fluid.
Polycystic kidney disease isn't limited to only your kidneys, although the kidneys usually are the most severely affected organs. The disease can cause cysts to develop elsewhere in your body.
The greatest risk for people with polycystic kidney disease is developing high blood pressure. Kidney failure is another common problem for people with polycystic kidney disease.
Polycystic kidney disease varies greatly in its severity, and some complications are preventable. Regular checkups can lead to treatments to reduce damage to your kidneys from complications, such as high blood pressure.
- Polycystic kidney disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/polycystic/. Accessed May 19, 2009.
- Polycystic kidney disease. Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/atoz/pdf/polycystic.pdf. Accessed May 19, 2009.
- Salant DJ, et al. Polycystic kidney disease and other inherited tubular disorders, In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2874530. Accessed May 22, 2009.
- Polycystic kidney disease. Genetics Home Reference. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=polycystickidneydisease. Accessed May 19, 2009.
- Grantham JJ. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. New England Journal of Medicine. 2008;359:1477.
- How is high blood pressure treated? National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbp/HBP_Treatments.html. Accessed May 22, 2009.
