Q:
I am female and now 27 years old. Both my father and grandfather have polycystic kidney disease. They developed symptoms around their 55 years old. I took an examination last year and found out that I have multiple cysts on bilateral kidneys. However it has not been confirmed weather it is PKD or kidney cysts. I sometimes feel back pain, high blood pressure and dizziness. I want to know what I should eat to protect my kidneys. Can I have baby and will I know the baby has the disease during pregnancy and what is the genetic risk?
A:
From what you have described above, I make a preliminary diagnosis that your family has the hereditary kidney disease---ADPKD. It is autosomal dominant kidney disease which is characterized by multiple fluid-filled cysts in bilateral kidneys and these cysts will continue to grow and oppress surrounding tissues, damage renal structures and affect kidney functions. Usually patients develop symptoms and discomforts during 30 to 50 years old such as back pain, high blood pressure, blood in urine and bubble urine, etc when these cysts grow larger than 3cm.