Polycystic kidney disease, autosomal dominant (ADPKD)

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a genetic condition that damages the kidneys by causing cysts to grow on them. Both kidneys are affected.

Genetic conditions are inherited, which means they run in the family.

The kidneys are towards the back of the abdomen, on either side of the spine. Normally, they are about 11cm (4 inches) long.

The kidneys help to keep the body healthy. They filter the blood, for example, to:

• Get rid of waste products, which are passed out in urine.
• Keep a normal balance of water and salts in the body by adjusting the levels in the blood.

Inherited PKD

ADPKD is the most common type of PKD. Symptoms develop slowly – usually over many years – and they appear mainly in adults between the ages of 30 and 60. ADPKD is nearly always inherited.

How common is ADPKD?

In the UK, about 90% of cases of PKD are ADPKD. About one in 800 people have the condition.

Both men and women can be affected. Research suggests that symptoms of ADPKD may be slightly more severe in men.

ADPKD is the most common inherited cause of serious kidney disease. Around 90% of people with the condition inherit it from one of their parents.

Non-inherited ADPKD

ADPKD can also develop where there is no family history of the condition. This is sometimes called non-inherited or non-hereditary PKD.

About 10% of cases of ADPKD are non-inherited.

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a different condition to ADPKD. It is also inherited but it is much rarer. Symptoms develop in babies, sometimes in the womb, and in children. Symptoms develop much more rapidly.

Glossary

Abdomen

The abdomen is the part of the body between the chest and the hips.

Blood

Blood supplies oxygen to the body and removes carbon dioxide. It is pumped around the body by the heart.

Cysts

A cyst is a fluid-filled sac or cavity in the body.

Genetic

Genetic is a term that refers to genes- the characteristics inherited from a family member.

Kidney

Kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located at the back of the abdomen, which remove waste and extra fluid from the blood and pass them out of the body as urine.

Spine

The spine supports the skeleton, and surrounds and protects the delicate spinal cord and nerves. It is made up of 33 bones called the vertebrae.