Aneurysm And Polycystic Kidney Disease: How To Treat

Polycystic kidney disease is a systemic disease which not only affects the kidneys but will involve digestive tract, nerves, reproductive system, liver, heart or even brain.

When brain is involved, intracranial aneurysm can form in the brain which is a relatively serious complication of PKD and it is often the major cause of early death for patients. What is more, the risk of aneurysm rupture will increase with the gradual enlargement of the aneurysm.

Treatment for aneurysm in polycystic kidney disease should conclude early detection, regular follow-up checks, controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol, slowing its growth rate and prevent aneurysm rupture, timely and proper surgical and non-surgical treatment for ruptured aneurysm as well as treating the underlying cause---renal cysts in bilateral kidneys.

If the patient is between 18-35 years old and his family member has been diagnosed with aneurysm, it is necessary for the patient to have MRI or angiography. If the aneurysm is smaller than 6mm, the risk of rupture is low. If it is larger than 6mm, it needs to be treated with surgeries. Surgeries for aneurysm include clipping and coiling which aim at prevent further blood supply to the aneurysm. However both surgeries have some risks and can cause damages to blood vessels and brain tissues.

If the aneurysm is ruptured and there is bleeding, it is necessary to stop the bleeding and it is better to have surgery 72 hours within the bleeding. Patients can have cerebral ischemia 5-14 days after aneurysm rupture, vasoactive drugs and calcium antagonists can be given under the doctor’s guidance. Knowing the signs and symptoms of aneurysm rupture can help us have an early detection. These symptoms include unbearable headache, nausea and vomiting, change in vision, etc.

If aneurysm can be detected early, aneurysm rupture and surgeries can all be avoided with proper prevention measures.

These prevention measures include:

Controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol---adopt a low-salt, low-fat diets, have moderate protein intake, regular exercises, quiting smoking and alcohol, have high blood pressure drugs such as ACEI, ARB if necessary.

Treating renal cysts---Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy can help shrink renal cysts and prevent further formation of more cysts in the kidneys by promoting re-absorption of cyst fluid and inactivating epithelial cells and blocking further secretion of more cyst fluid. When PKD is treated from the root, all the symptoms and complications will be alleviated from the root.