Polycystic kidney disease

Updated: 2023-05-13

Overview

Polycystic kidney disease can cause the kidneys to work less well. The disease is due to a gene change, also called a mutation. Most often, it runs in families. One or both parents pass on a copy of the mutated gene to the child. But some people get the disease without receiving a mutated gene from a parent. The gene change can happen on its own.

Symptoms

Polycystic kidney disease symptoms can include high blood pressure, back or side pain, and blood in the urine. The disease also can cause a feeling of fullness in the stomach area. Other symptoms can include headaches, kidney stones, and infections of the kidneys or urinary tract.

Treatments

Medicine can slow polycystic kidney disease from getting worse. So can lifestyle changes that help control high blood pressure. These include eating a diet that's low in sodium and fat, getting more exercise, and not smoking. Other treatments can ease symptoms, such as pain, and manage health complications, such as kidney or bladder infections.