Polycystic Kidney Disease
It is an inherited disease, passing down through families, in which kidneys become enlarged due to the formation of multiple cysts. It exists in two forms viz. autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease. The cysts may travel to other parts of the body like the liver. In early stage of the disease, the kidney swells; and in some cases the cysts enhance the production of red blood cells, by increasing the secretion of erythroprotein hormone. Abdominal ultrasound and abdominal CT scan are helpful in determining the disease. The end-stage of the disease requires kidney transplantation.
