Polycystic kidney disease

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD, also known as polycystic kidney syndrome) is a hereditary genetic disorder in which the renal tubules’ structure becomes abnormal resulting in multiple cysts growing on the kidneys. This can happen at any time during the lifespan from fetus development through to adulthood.Cysts replace functioning tubules with non-functioning tubules and can be anywhere in size from microscopic to enormous.There are two types of polycystic kidney disease: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (most common) and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease. Both are hereditary with the latter affecting babies within the first few weeks of life and often associated with undeveloped kidneys.