If I Have PKD Gene from Parents, Will I Get PKD

If I have PKD gene from parents, will I get PKD? Prior to this question, we should make it clear that what kind of PKD you have and how PKD is inherited. PKD is a genetic disorder and divided into two categories: autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD).

How is PKD inherited?

1. Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD).

ARPKD is much less common disease, which is due to mutation in chromosome 6 gene. As this PKD is recessive, only if each of parents has a mutated gene of chromosome 6, their children can have the possibility of getting ARPKD. In this situation, the chance of ARPKD inherited by children is 25%. Besides, if children suffer from this disease, they often die in the womb or can’t survive for some months after birth. However, some children with ARPKD can survive and grow up, which is very rare.

2. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)

In contrast with ARPKD, it is more common that ADPKD occurs on people. ADPKD is dominant, which means that only if one mutated gene in chromosome 16 or chromosome 4 is inherited by children, children can have ADPKD. According to research, 85% mutations in ADPKD occur in chromosome 16 and 15% mutations in ADPKD occur in chromosome 4. Thus, patients with ADPKD is mostly because of mutation in chromosome 16. Children who have inherited ADPKD don’t have any difference at an early age. Besides, ADPKD develops very slowly and often occurs when patients are at the age of 35-40.

Now let’s get to the point that if I have PKD gene from parents, will I get PKD?

From the above, if you get PKD gene from parents, you need to confirm which kind it is. If it is only one mutated gene of chromosome 6, you don’t have to worry. Because it is recessive and ARPKD won’t appear in this situation. However, if it is a mutated gene in chromosome 16 or chromosome 4, you will suffer from ADPKD. And clinical manifestation of ADPKD usually occurs after patients grow up. In some special cases, ADPKD can appear in childhood or adolescence.

For patients with PKD, kidney cyst can increase and enlarge, leading to decline of kidney function. If untreated, it will progress into end stage renal failure and lost kidney function seriously. Thus, patients with PKD should get good treatment timely to alleviate conditions. Nowadays, Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy has been widely used to treat PKD and is very effective on shrinkage of cyst and recovery of kidney function.