How to Treat Proteinuria for PKD Patients

Proteinuria is one common symptom in PKD patients and it manifests bubbles in urine. Since the damages of renal tubules are earlier that that of renal glomeruli in PKD, in the early stage the protein in urine is not usually less than 2g. With the continuous enlargement and increase of cysts, the illness conditions will become worse and more renal tissues and renal functions are affected, the protein in urine will become more and proteinuria will become worse.

In case of proteinuria, effective and proper treatments should be taken or it will in turn worsen PKD conditions. The followings are treatment options of proteinuria for PKD patients.

1. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI). This kind of medicines can help reduce proteinuria at the same time of lowering high blood pressure and protect kidney functions.

2. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB). These medicines have similar functions with that of ACEI---reduce high blood pressure, eliminate protein in urine and protect kidney functions.

3. Cyclosporine and mycophenolic acid ester. They have more affirmative effects on reducing protein in urine, but are expensive and proteinuria is easy to relapse after the medicines are stopped.

4. Chinese medicines. We know that proteinuria and hematuria in PKD are due to increased glomerular permeability and damaged renal tubules. Western medicines only aim at relieving protein in urine without repairing damaged renal intrinsic cells and tissues. That is why proteinuria is often on and off and can not be cured. Chinese herbal medicines have the functions of dilating blood vessels, anti-inflammation, anti-coagulation and degradation of extracellular matrix so as to increase supply of blood, oxygen and other nutrition for repairing damaged renal tissues. Active ingredients in some herbs can stimulate DNA replication and recover kidney structure and functions. Since the root problem is solved, the curative effects are lasting and durable and the recurrent rate is much lowered. Chinese medicines can also regulate disorders and imbalances in internal environment and immune system and make patients become stronger enough to resist various viruses and infections which are often the inducing factors of proteinuria. What is more, some herbs can help slow down the growth rate or even shrink these multiple cysts in PKD so that to solve the most underlying cause of proteinuria.