What happens to the kidneys in Polycystic Disease?
Multiple cysts grow in the kidneys. A cyst is a small circular ball filled with watery fluid. They vary in size from a pinhead to a table tennis ball (2cm). Each cyst is a ballooning up of tiny tubes that are normally found in the kidneys. Eventually the kidneys may become very enlarged, looking as though they consist of a mass of small balls stuck together. This is not a malignant or cancerous change. Kidney failure often develops in late middle age. However there are some families where kidney failure is delayed or never occurs, and others in which kidney failure occurs earlier (age 40-45 years). Normally the function gets worse only very gradually but it is possible to predict from the blood tests how much longer the kidneys will last. When kidney failure occurs, dialysis may be necessary and a kidney transplant should be possible.
