ADPKD - Polycystic kidney disease | PKD treatment research

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is one of the most common and serious genetic conditions. In ADPKD, fluid-filled cysts gradually develop and grow in both kidneys, eventually leading to kidney failure. It’s the fourth leading cause of kidney failure, with more than 50% of patients facing this challenge by the age of 50. With kidney failure, dialysis or a transplant are the only treatment options.

ADPKD is a painful condition that can significantly affect quality of life. While a typical kidney is about the size of a human fist, polycystic kidneys can grow much larger—sometimes reaching the size of a football and weighing up to 30 pounds each.

Unlike some genetic diseases, ADPKD doesn’t skip generations, which means it often impacts multiple members of a family. About 10% of people diagnosed with ADPKD have no family history of the condition; this is called a spontaneous mutation. Once someone has ADPKD, whether inherited or from a new mutation, there’s a 50% chance they will pass it on to each of their children.

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Understanding ADPKD