Polycystic Kidney Disease is characterised by the presence of varied cysts in one's
kidneys. The disease can cause the kidneys to fail-which often happens after
many years-the patient requires dialysis as a life-saving method. Under this
treatment, some patients will experience bone pain. What are the causes?
▪ Renal bone disease
The kidneys can help make our bones strong and healthy by keeping the proper
levels of substances like calcium, phosphate, and vitamin D. Kidney Failure will
results in abnormal levels of these substances and cause renal bone disease, a
condition that weakens the bones in the body.
Dialysis can only perform limited functions of normal kidneys, such as
removing wastes, and fail to maintain the internal metabolic balance. Therefore,
bone pain, especially in the back, hips, legs, and knees, can be caused in this
condition.
▪ Amyloidosis
Renal bone disease is not the only cause of bone pain in Polycystic Kidneys
patients with kidney failure. A condition called amyloidosis can also lead to
this problem.
Amyloidosis can develop more than 5 years or so after the start of dialysis.
It occur because the treatment has not effectively remove a protein called
beta-2-microglobulin from the blood. Ultimately, molecules of this protein start
linking together and depositing on muscles and other tissues. Bone pain can be
caused when these proteins become deposited in joints all over the body.
Patients with Polycystic Kidneys should notice that long-term dialysis will
cause many side effects (what are the effects of dialysis to renal failure
patients). It is just a renal replacement therapy other than an effective
treatment. Under this treatment, patients will still suffer from progressive
loss of kidney function.
Therefore, we recommend people with Polycystic Kidneys to find a systemic
treatment which can block further deterioration and improve the renal function.
In this way, the life quality can be significantly improved, and patients can
live a normal life without dialysis.
