What is polycystic kidney disease (PKD)?
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous cysts filled with fluid in the kidneys. PKD cysts can reduce kidney function, leading to kidney failure. PKD can also cause cysts in the liver and problems in other organs, such as the heart and blood vessels in the brain. PKD is the fourth leading cause of kidney failure and affects approximately 600,000 people in the US. According to the National Kidney Foundation, about 50 percent of people with autosomal dominant form of PKD progress to kidney failure, or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), by age 60 and about 60 percent will have kidney failure by age 70.
