You usually have two kidneys, one on either side of the middle back just under the ribs.
A kidney is about the size of your fist.
The kidneys do many jobs including:
Ø · Controlling the amount of water and salts in the blood
Ø · Filtering out waste products
Ø · Producing a hormone that helps to control blood pressure Signs and symptoms In the case of autosomal dominant PKD, there may be no symptoms (a symptomatic) in the early stages. The cysts usually start growing during the teenage years. Over time, the cysts replace healthy tissue and make the outline of the kidneys look irregular or 'moth-eaten'. Symptoms usually develop around 30 - 40 years old but can begin earlier and may lead to kidney failure.
Symptoms include:
Ø · Pain in the back or sides
Ø · Headaches
Ø · Enlarged and painful abdomen (belly area)
Ø · Blood in the urine (haematuria)
Ø · High blood pressure - occurs early in the disease, often before cysts appear.
Ø · Urinary tract infections
Ø · Kidney stones
Ø · Liver and pancreatic cysts
Ø · Abnormal heart valves
Ø · Aneurysms in the brain - bulges in the walls of blood cells
Ø · Diverticulosis - small sac on the colon.
The signs and symptoms of autosomal recessive PKD can begin before birth so it is often called 'infantile PKD'. Children with born with this type of PKD often develop kidney failure within a few years of birth and experience liver problems as they grow into adults.
Signs and symptoms may include:
Ø · High blood pressure
Ø · Urinary tract infections
Ø · Frequent urination (passing urine)
Ø · Low blood cell counts
Ø · Varicose veins
Ø · Hemorrhoids
Ø · Smaller than average height.
What is chronic kidney disease (CKD)?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that occurs when the kidneys can't remove waste or maintains the proper fluid and chemical balances in the body. Normally, the waste products that are produced by the body are filtered from the blood by the kidneys and eliminated in the urine. When the kidneys aren't working properly, the waste products build up and become poisonous (toxic) to the body. CKD can develop rapidly within 2 to 3 months or slowly, over 30 to 40 years.
Although kidney disease is a progressive, lifelong, and sometimes fatal disease, it can often be managed effectively. Medications, lifestyle changes, and dietary modifications are used to control underlying health problems and help you live as normal a life as possible. If the disease progresses, an artificial means of filtering wastes (dialysis) or a kidney transplant may be needed.
What causes chronic kidney disease?
Diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure damage the blood vessels that supply the kidneys and are the most common causes of chronic kidney disease. Other causes of CKD include conditions that affect the structures inside the kidneys. Glomerulonephritis, for example, is a disease that causes inflammation of the kidney's filtering structures. The use or overuse of many medications, an infection or an obstruction of the kidneys, and some genetic diseases can also damage kidney tissue and lead to chronic kidney disease.
What are the symptoms?
Many people who develop chronic kidney disease do not have symptoms at first. This is known as the "silent phase" of chronic kidney disease. As the disease worsens, symptoms become more noticeable and may include:
Ø Decreased urinary output (oliguria).
Ø Fluid retention and swelling (edema).
Ø Fatigue.
Ø Loss of appetite (anorexia).
Ø Nausea and vomiting.
Ø Insomnia or increased sleepiness (lethargy).
Ø Changes in mental functioning.
How is chronic kidney disease diagnosed?
When the kidneys are damaged and do not properly filter waste products from your blood, excess fluid and chemicals (such as urea and creatinine) build up in your body. Blood and urine tests measure these substances and help determine how well your kidneys are working. Other blood tests will be used to monitor for anemia, which can be caused by advanced kidney disease.
An ultrasound, which uses reflected sound waves to produce an image of the kidneys, may be needed to measure the size of the kidneys, estimate blood flow to the kidneys, and determine whether urine flow is blocked. In some cases, a sample of kidney tissue (biopsy) may be taken.
What are the complications of kidney disease?
1. Regardless of what causes kidney disease, problems begin to occur when your kidneys cannot adequately filter and remove waste products from your blood. These substances can become toxic to the body if they reach high levels. As levels of these waste products begin to increase, you may begin to notice symptoms or complications, such as:
2. Changes in how your brain works. You may find that you are easily confused or agitated. You may become very sleepy, have seizures, or slip into a coma.
3. Loss of interest in food. You may feel nauseated, vomit, or begin to lose weight.
4. Severe itching or easy bruising or bleeding from even a minor injury.
5. Heart problems, such as an irregular heartbeat or chest pain from inflammation of the sac that surrounds the heart (pericarditis).
6. Breathing problems, such as shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
7. Bone disease (osteodystrophy), which is caused by a buildup of phosphorus and a decrease in calcium levels.
