Polycystic Kidney DiseaseSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Polycystic Kidney Disease
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a kidney condition passed down through families. In this disease, many cysts form in the kidneys, causing them to become enlarged.
Cysts - kidneys; Kidney - polycystic; Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease; ADPKD
PKD is passed down through families (inherited). The two inherited forms of PKD are autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive.
People with PKD have many clusters of cysts in the kidneys. What exactly triggers the cysts to form is unknown.
PKD is associated with the following conditions:
- Aortic aneurysms
- Brain aneurysms
- Cysts in the liver, pancreas, and testes
- Diverticula of the colon
As many as half of people with PKD have cysts in the liver.
Symptoms of PKD may include any of the following:
- Abdominal pain or tenderness
- Blood in the urine
- Excessive urination at night (nocturia)
- Flank pain on one or both sides
- Drowsiness
- Joint pain
- Nail abnormalities
The goal of treatment is to control symptoms and prevent complications. Treatment may include:
- Blood pressure medicines
- Diuretics (water pills)
- Low-salt diet
Any urinary tract infection should be treated quickly with antibiotics.
Cysts that are painful, infected, bleeding, or causing a blockage may need to be drained. There are usually too many cysts to make it practical to remove each cyst.
Surgery to remove one or both kidneys may be needed. Treatments for end-stage kidney disease may include dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Harbor-UCLA Nephrology
Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh is an Internal Medicine provider practicing medicine in Torrance, California. Dr. Kalantar-Zadeh is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Polycystic Kidney Disease. He is also highly rated in 41 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Chronic Kidney Disease, Hypertension, High Potassium Level, Kidney Transplant, and Nephrectomy. Dr. Kalantar-Zadeh is board certified in Interal Medicine, Nephrology, and Pediatrics.
UChicago Medicine River East
Arlene Chapman is a Nephrologist practicing medicine in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Chapman is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Polycystic Kidney Disease. She is also highly rated in 6 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Polycystic Kidney Disease, Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, Tuberous Sclerosis, and Kidney Transplant. Dr. Chapman is board certified in Practicing Since1986 and Internal Medicine Nephrology. Dr. Chapman is currently accepting new patients.
Medical Pavilion
Alan Yu is a Nephrologist practicing medicine in Kansas City, Kansas. Dr. Yu is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Polycystic Kidney Disease. He is also highly rated in 4 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Polycystic Kidney Disease, Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, and Kidney Stones. Dr. Yu is board certified in American Board Of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine - 1995 and American Board Of Internal Medicine, Nephrology - 1996 . Dr. Yu is currently accepting new patients.
More information and support for people with polycystic kidney disease and their families can be found at a kidney disease support group.
The disease gets worse slowly. Eventually, it may lead to end-stage kidney failure. It is also associated with liver disease, including infection of liver cysts.
The treatment may relieve symptoms for many years.
People with PKD who don't have other diseases may be good candidates for a kidney transplant.
Health problems that may result from PKD include:
- Anemia
- Bleeding or rupture of cysts
- Long-term (chronic) kidney disease
- End-stage kidney disease
- High blood pressure
- Infection of liver cysts
- Kidney stones
- Liver failure (mild to severe)
- Repeated urinary tract infections
Contact your health care provider if:
- You have symptoms of PKD
- You have a family history of PKD or related conditions and you are planning to have children (you may want to have genetic counseling)
Currently, no treatment can prevent the cysts from forming or enlarging.
Summary: Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic cause of kidney disease that causes fluid-filled cysts to develop in the kidneys. The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of ABBV-CLS-628 for the treatment of ADPKD in adult participants. ABBV-CLS-628 is an investigational drug being developed for the treatment of ADPKD. Participants are placed i...
Summary: This is a first-in-human, multi-part clinical study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), food effect, and drug-drug interaction (DDI) potential of GV-100 following oral administration in healthy participants. The study is divided into four parts: Single Ascending Dose (SAD), Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD), Food Effect (FE), and Drug-Drug Interaction (DDI).
Published Date: September 02, 2025
Published By: Walead Latif, MD, Nephrologist and Clinical Associate Professor, Rutgers Medical School, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Arnaout MA. Cystic kidney diseases. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 112.
Guay-Woodford LM. Other cystic kidney diseases. In: Johnson RJ, Floege J, Tonelli M, eds. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 47.
Torres VE, Harris PC. Cystic diseases of the kidney. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 45.