Kidney cystic diseases are a range of hereditary or acquired conditions that results in the abnormal pouches of fluid in the kidneys. The functions of the kidneys include filtering the waste products from the blood, maintaining the mineral, salt and acid balance. These cysts can affect the normal function of the kidneys and can cause kidney failure. The cysts are classified based on their location, the features and the cause of the cysts. Some of the common types of cysts include polycystic kidney disease, medullary cystic kidney disease, medullary sponge kidney and acquired cystic kidney disease.
Polycystic kidney disease
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the presence of numerous cysts that develop in the kidneys which are filled with fluid. The numerous numbers of these cysts can reduce the function of the kidneys causing kidney failure. Individuals with the PKD can also have cysts in other organs such as the ovaries, the liver, pancreas and the large bowel. When the PKD affects the brain it can cause an aneurysm which is the enlarged blood vessel that can burst resulting in a stroke or even death. The initial symptoms of PKD can include high blood pressure, pounding of the chest, blood in the urine, back side pain, frequent kidney or bladder infections and an increase in the abdominal size. There is no cure and the treatment focuses on the control of symptoms and to prevent or slow the kidney failure. The treatment can include healthy lifestyle habits, reducing salt intake, medication to control pain, antibiotics for kidney or bladder infection and controlling the blood pressure.
Medullary cystic kidney disease
This is an inherited condition where the cysts that develop in the center of the kidneys affect their normal functions. As the kidneys are unable to concentrate the urine, it can result in excess urine production and the loss of essential chemicals from the blood. The initial stage of this condition can present weakness, excessive urination, salt craving and night time urination. The symptoms of the later stage (kidney failure) include coma, confusion, decreased alertness, easy bleeding, fatigue, cramps, pale skin, nausea, weakness, weight loss and vomiting blood or the presence of blood in the stool. The treatment focuses on keeping well hydrated, diet changes, reducing food containing potassium and taking salt supplements. As the disease progresses, the kidney failure can occur and the treatment includes dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Medullary sponge kidney
This is the birth defect that occurs with the changes in the tubules inside the kidney of the fetus. The cysts develop in the tubules within the inner part of the kidney known as the medulla creating the sponge-like appearance. As the result of these cysts, the urine drainage is slow and inefficient. This condition can affect a single of both the kidneys and the symptoms don’t appear until the teenage. The initial symptoms of the medullary sponge kidney include the urinary tract infection or a kidney stone which presents burning sensation with urination, pain in the back or the lower abdomen, foul-smelling urine, cloudy urine, fever, chills and vomiting. The treatment focuses on curing the urinary tract infection and removing the kidney stones.
References
https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/polycystic
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/kidneys-cystic-kidney-disease
http://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/medullary-cystic-kidney-disease
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/children/medullary-sponge-kidney
