Treatments for Complications of Polycystic Kidney Disease

As we all know, Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) has become one of the most life-threatening disease all over the world. Why this disease is so dangerous? It is not just because this disease is a type of genetic disease. There is another reason that, with the enlargement of cysts, there will be various complications of this disease. Then how can we treat complications of Polycystic Kidney Disease?

First, general treatment method: most PKD patients don’t need to change lifestyle or limit their activities. Patients with obvious kidney enlargement should prevent abdominal injury in order to avoid rupture of cysts. Patients in Uremia stage of Renal Failure should be treated according to corresponding treatment principles.

Second, dialysis and kidney transplant: When the disease progresses into the end stage of Renal Failure, patients should accept dialysis and the priority is hemodialysis. The survival rate of kidney transplant for patients with this disease is similar to that of other diseases. However, due to the complications of this disease, prognosis will be affected.

Third, cyst decortication: This operation can lighten the compression of cysts to renal parenchyma so as to protect most of the remaining kidney units from compression and further damage. It can also improve renal ischemia state so that partial kidney units can be recovered and the disease can be slowed down. The earlier to have the operation, the better the treatment effect is. Cyst decompression must do thoroughly; small cysts and cysts in deep must be involved. Operation should apply to bilateral kidneys. In general, the interval is more than half year. If patients are in Azotemia Period or Uremia Period, whether it is accompanied with high blood pressure, this operation has no meaning instead the operation can aggravate the disease.

Forth, Treatment method for upper urinary tract calculus: According to the position and size of calculus of urinary tract, treat this complication with the principle of treating urinary tract calculus.


Fifth, Treatment method for high blood pressure: renal ischemia and activation of renin, angiotensin and aldosterone are the main reasons causing high blood pressure. Therefore, we should choose hypotensive drugs according to the causes.