A Brief Introduction of Complications of Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a common genetic disease. It is caused by abnormal gene. The abnormal gene that causes the disease is irreversible. What patients can do id to control the disease progression and repair the damaged renal cells timely. If not, their disease will induce a series of complications and even develop into Renal Failure. Then, what are the complications of PKD? As follows:

1. Hypertension

Hypertension is very common among patients with PKD. As the cysts enlarge, they will oppress its neighboring renal tissues thus damaging the normal renal function and causing Hypertension.

2. Cysts in other organs

Among middle- aged patients with PKD, about half of them have Polycystic Liver Disease. And the incidence of Polycystic Liver Disease can reach 70% among patients older than 60 years. In addition, cysts can be found in pancreas and ovary. Generally speaking, cysts in other organs develop 10 years later than PKD. Moreover, many patients may have diverticular disease.

3. Kidney stone

As patients’ kidney fails to maintain acid-base balance in body, the urine is more acidic than normal thus causing high uric acid levels, which is an important in causing kidney stone. Calcium supplements also help. Moreover, after patients have calcium intake, the calcium will bind oxalates in the bowel to prevent excess urinary oxalate excretion which may also lead to calcium oxalate stone formation.

4. Cerebral aneurysm

The most serious complication of PKD is a cerebral aneurysm. If the patient can not control cerebral aneurysm effectively, they can rupture thus causing bleeding into the brain and even can lead to irreversible brain damage and death to patients. Aneurysm rupture mainly occurs among patients with larger aneurysms and/or poorly controlled high blood pressure. The most common symptom of hemorrhage When patients with PKD have severe headache with frequent nausea and vomiting, they should watch out for that abnormal symptom for that may be an omen of cerebral aneurysm.


In order to prevent the above complications of PKD, all patients must receive effective treatment timely.