Polycystic Kidney Disease Symptoms and Their Causes

With the advance of Polycystic Kidney Disease, patients will suffer a lot of symptoms which can be kidney enlargement, abdominal mass, back pain, hematuria (blood in urine), high blood pressure, proteinuria (protein in urine), anemia and so on. Then, what are the causes of these symptoms for Polycystic Kidney Disease patients? You can get the answer from the following articles.

1. Kidney enlargement

All patients will suffer from kidney enlargement if they get Polycystic Kidney Disease. When PKD attacks, countless fluid filled cysts will be formed in both kidneys. In the early stage, the number and size of kidney cysts are very small, the kidneys’ sizes seems to be normal. However, along with the increase of cyst number and size, the kidney will get large. The kidney can be 4-5 times larger than the normal kidneys.

2. Abdominal masses

About 50%-80% patients with PKD will feel abdominal masses on both sides. When the kidney sizes enlarge to a certain degree, patients will feel abdominal mass by touching.

3. Back pain

Back pain is one of the early symptoms of Polycystic Kidney Disease. Along with enlargement of cysts, the pain will present more frequently. The pains can be dull pain, swollen pain or prickling. Acute pain or pain the present suddenly often indicates bleeding caused by cyst rupture, stone, urinary tract obstruction caused by blood clot.

4. Hematuria (blood in urine)

Most patients will present gross hematuria, which is often spontaneity or can occur after strenuous exercise or trauma. Blood in urine can be caused by rupture of blood vessels around cyst wall or infection, etc. Along with rise in high blood pressure and enlargement of cyst, hematuria will occur more frequently.

5. Proteinuria (protein in urine)

Polycystic Kidney Disease patients usually suffer from proteinuria when their kidney function has impaired. For Polycystic Kidney Disease patients, proteinuria is caused by the damage of renal tubules and glomeruli.

6. High blood pressure (Hypertension)

With the oppression of kidney units, the kidneys will stimulate the RASS system, which will elevate the blood pressure. Once high blood pressure occurs, the disease will go worse in a faster pace.

The above are the main symptoms of Polycystic Kidney Disease and their main causes. Please go to see a nephrologist when the following symptoms attack you. You can also contact with our online medical staff. To help you is the best our hard work.