Polycystic Kidney Disease: Can I Avoid Dialysis

As we know PKD is a genetic disease, and develops progressively, some patients may concurrently have polycystic liver and renal calculus. Infection is an important factor that may suddenly aggravate the polycystic kidney disease and make the renal function decline rapidly. Many patients with PKD think dialysis is the only choice for them, if the polycystic kidney disease develops into kidney failure.


Because of gene inherited from the parents, the epithelial cells proliferate abnormally, yet apoptosis of this kind of cells is inhibited. So, when proliferating to certain extent (saying the diameter exceeds some milimeters), this proliferated part will be separated from the renal tubule or collecting tubule, so an isolated cyst filled with liquid will form. With large amount of cystic fluid accumulated, the cyst become larger and larger With growth of cysts, normal renal structure will be changed by these cysts.

PKD leads to insufficient blood supply in kidneys, which activates the Renin-angiotensin-aldosteron System, which cuases high blood pressure.

Indeed, many PKD patients were told that there was not a treatment for PKD and let them wait until they could do dialysis. Since you still have 20-30% renal function left, if you take effective treatment now to shrink your cysts and control your blood pressure, you are probably to delay dialysis, even avoid dialysis for your whole life.

As you can see from the above explanation, it is the cyst-lining epithelial cells’ abnormal proliferation and apoptosis, as well as its secreation of cystic liquid that make the cysts grow. So, we can do now is to change or inhibit the cyst-lining epithelial cells’ function so as to prevent the cysts from growing and to shrink the cysts at the same time. In that case, dialysis and kidney transplant will be avoided.

So, we can shrink the cysts on the kidneys and stop them from growing up at the same time without surgery. Polycystic Kidney Disease: you can avoid Dialysis.
Learn More: New Herbal Medicine to Avoid Dialysis for People with Polycystic Kidneys