What is multicystic kidney disease?
Multicystic kidney disease (MCDK) is a congenital kidney disease, most often diagnosed on a prenatal ultrasound, in which the kidney is non-functional and resembles a cluster of grapes, unlike the “kidney bean” shape of a normally developed organ. It is usually present only in 1 kidney. Children with MCDK on one side often have kidney abnormalities on the other side and therefore need to be seen by a kidney specialist. If the other kidney is normal, these children have a normal life with no need for medications.
