ABSITE CORNER. Polycystic kidney disease

GENERAL INFORMATION Key points: (a) Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is one of the most common genetic disorders; (b) There are two main types of PKD – autosomal dominant (most common) and autosomal recessive; (c) Diagnosis of PKD relies on a combination of clinical history, family history, imaging studies (computed tomography, ultrasound) and clinical findings (hematuria, hypertension, proteinuria); (d) Extrarenal manifestations of PKD include hepatic cysts, pancreatic and intestinal cysts, colonic diverticula, inguinal and abdominal wall hernias, valvular heart disorders, and cerebral aneurysms; (e) Treatment is centered on ameliorating symptoms and providing supportive care – therapy consists of adequate analgesia for pain symptoms, antibiotics for urinary tract infections, antihypertensive medications, renal supportive therapy; (f) Surgical indications include surgical decompression of large cysts and renal transplantation for endstage renal failure.