Q: I have PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) has had it since 2007. My doctors
only have given me telmisartan 40 mg and another inhibitor. I am not sure which
I am taking. Even so, my blood pressure runs around 125~140. I have even looked
in to herbs from drug store. Can you give some suggestion?
A: High blood pressure is common complications of PKD. Generally patients
with PKD will have high blood pressure in 30s, high creatinine level in 40s and
renal failure in 50s.
It is right for them to give you medications like telmisartan which will help
make your blood pressure stable. You'd better continue with it. However, if you
want to get rid of the medicine, you have to recover your kidney function
first.
Telmisartan is a kind of angiotensin II receptor antagonists. You have to use
it because when renal fibrosis happens, the angiotensin I secreted by the
kidneys will turn into angiotension II with the action of aldosterone system,
thus causing hypertension. If this process cannot be stopped, you have to take
antihypertensives the whole life.
Besides, if the renal cysts continue to enlarge, the pressure on the kidney
tissues will increase and cause lack of blood and oxygen supply in the kidneys.
That's why PKD will develop to Renal Failure in the end.
In order to prevent kidney failure and dialysis, we should first well control
the blood pressure. At the same time, we should look for ways to shrink the
cysts and increase the blood flow in the kidneys. Therefore, we have to do
something about the cysts now.
As you have looked into herbs, you must know something about Chinese
medicine. Chinese medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood
stasis is suitable for your condition. Prescriptions of Chinese herbal medicine
for PKD can control the enlargement of kidneys, shrink renal cysts and repair
damaged renal tissues. Meantime, it contributes to control blood pressure by
improving declined renal functions and dilating blood vessels. If you still need
further information, you can mail kidney-treatment@hotmail.com
