NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen; these are not advisable for PKD patients to take.
Pain clinic
A clinic or office that uses biofeedback and supports groups to help manage pain.
Paired donation
A transplant option for candidates who have a living donor who is medically able, but cannot donate a kidney to their intended candidate because they are incompatible (i.e. poorly matched); consists of two or more kidney donor/recipient pairs whose blood types are not compatible; the two recipients trade donors so that each recipient can receive a kidney with a compatible blood type.
Peritoneal dialysis (PD)
A type of dialysis that removes extra fluid, electrolytes and waste using the lining of the abdominal cavity.
Peritoneum
The abdominal cavity.
PKD1
The gene that provides instructions for the polycystin-1 protein; a mutation of the PKD1 gene will cause a person to have ADPKD.
PKD2
The gene that provides instructions for the polycystin-2 protein; a mutation of the PKD2 gene will cause a person to have ADPKD.
PKHD1
The gene that codes for ARPKD.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
Polycystic kidney disease; a genetic disease which causes uncontrolled growth of cysts in the kidneys. There are two forms of PKD: ADPKD and ARPKD.
Polycystin
A protein that is encoded by the PKD1 and PKD2 genes; regulates many important tubular cell functions.
Polycystin-1
The protein that is coded by the PKD1 gene.
Polycystin-2
The protein that is coded by the PKD2 gene.
Portal hypertension
An abnormality in the liver which can impede the return of blood from the intestine to the liver; it can lead to distention and increased pressure in the veins around the esophagus, the stomach, and the intestine. This can rupture, leading to possibly life-threatening gastro-intestinal bleeding. In addition, portal hypertension can cause spleen enlargement and hypersplenism resulting in low red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet counts.
Positive crossmatch
A transplant option that allows you to receive a kidney from a living donor who does not match you due to antibodies; specialized medical treatment is required before and after transplant to prevent rejection; this type of donation is only considered when no other option is available.
Potassium
A substance essential to all living cells found in most foods; supplements should not be taken without consultation by your doctor or dietitian.
Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)
A form of early genetic diagnoses that uses vitro fertilization; eggs harvested from a mother are fertilized in a laboratory with the father’s sperm then the fertilized embryos are tested for ARPKD; embryos that are diagnosed as free of the disorder are then placed in the uterus with the intent to initiate a pregnancy.
Preemptive transplantation
Having a transplant before dialysis is required.
Proteinuria
Protein in the urine.
Pyelonephritis
A urinary tract infection (UTI) when the infection is in the kidney.
Red blood cells (RBCs)
RBCs in the urine is called hematuria.
Regurgitation
When blood leaks back to the top part of the heart caused by mitral valve prolapse (MVP).
Renal dietitian
A dietitian with special knowledge and experience in kidney disease.
Renin
An enzyme produced in the kidneys.
Renin-angiostensin-aldosterone system
A hormone system in the body that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.
Satiety
Feeling full; a common side effect of severe polycystic liver disease (PLD).
Sclerose
To harden.
Sex chromosomes
The chromosomes that contain genes that determine gender.
Sonogram
See ultrasound.
Spontaneous mutation
A mutation that arises naturally and is not inherited from parents; also called a “de novo.”
Systolic pressure
The top/first number of the blood pressure reading; it measures the pressure when the heart is pumping.
Therapeutic coil
A device surgically placed in an aneurysm to repair it.
Total kidney volume (TKV)
The total volume your kidney holds and is typically measured by MRI.
Truncating mutation
A change in the DNA that can truncate or shorten the protein.
Tuberous sclerosis complex
A rare, multi-system genetic disease that causes benign tumors to grow in the brain and on other vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs and skin; can affect infants who have ADPKD.
Tubules
The filtering part of the kidney.
Ultrasound
The most common and least costly screening method for PKD; a screening method that uses sound waves to develop images of the inside of the body.
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
The organization that sets transplantation policy and who operates NOTA (see National Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network).
Ureters
The tubes from the kidneys to the bladder.
Urethra
The tube that goes from the bladder to the outside.
Uric acid
A common type of crystal that can lead to kidney stones.