Polycystic Kidney Disease in Children

Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic condition that is characterized by the development of fluid-filled cysts inside the kidneys. The condition can limit kidney function and lead to kidney failure. There are two types of polycystic kidney disease. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease typically affects adults and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease affects infants and children.

Significance

• According to Children's Hospital Boston, about 500,000 people in the U.S. have polycystic kidney disease. Of those, about half will experience kidney failure at some point. According to the Polycystic Kidney Foundation, autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease occurs in about 1 out of every 20,000 births.

Causes

• Polycystic kidney disease is most often passed down from parent to child. A child has a 50 percent chance of developing the disorder if her parent has polycystic kidney disease.

Identification

• If a parent or close family member has polycystic kidney disease, an infant may undergo genetic testing shortly after birth to determine if he has the disease as well. Other tests that may be used to diagnose polycystic kidney disease include ultrasounds, CT scans and MRIs.

Complications

• Polycystic kidney disease may also cause the development of cysts in the liver. It may affect the heart and blood vessels located in the brain. Children with polycystic kidney disease often suffer from complications such as high blood pressure, frequent urinary tract infections and their growth may be stunted.

Treatment

• Treatment for pediatric polycystic kidney disease may include surgical procedures, dialysis and kidneys transplants. Also, pain medication and high blood pressure medications may be needed.