What are the Symptoms and Signs of PKD

The diagnosis of PKD mainly depends on family history, clinical symptoms and auxiliary examinations.

PKD is a kidney disease that can affect various systems in the body and its clinical manifestations include renal symptoms and symptoms in other organs and systems.

Signs and symptoms of kidneys

1. Renal cysts. There are multiple fluid-filled cysts in both renal cortex and renal medulla. The size and number of renal cysts will increase along with the illness progression and the growth rate of cysts is usually quicker in male than female.

2. Back pain, flank pain or abdominal pain. The pain will become more severe along with age and continuous enlargement of the cysts and it is more obvious in women patients. Sharp pain or sudden pain often indicates cyst rupture, kidney stone, urinary obstruction or infections.

3. Blood in urine. Rupture of blood vessels around the cysts, kidney stone, renal infections or cancerization can all cause cyst bleeding and blood in urine.

4. High blood pressure. It is the most common early symptom of PKD and also one of the major risk factors for speeding up illness progression and aggravating renal functions.

5. Frequent urination. These continuously enlarged cysts will oppress and replace normal renal tissues and damage renal functions. In the early state it is the renal concentrating function that is damaged and patients will have frequent urination especially increased night urination.

6. Kidney stones. There are about 20% adult PKD patients will have stones in their kidneys.

7. Infections. Urinary tract infections and cyst infections are very common in PKD patients.

Besides signs and discomforts in the kidneys, PKD can involve digestive system, cardiovascular system, central nervous system, reproductive system, etc.

8. Liver cysts. PKD can cause cysts in many other organs like liver, pancreas, spleen, ovary, arachnoid membrane and pineal gland with liver cysts the highest incidence.

9. Heart valve abnormality, colonic diverticulum and intracranial aneurysm. Aneurysm is the most dangerous one and it is the main cause of early death in PKD patients.