Video - Polycystic kidney disease

Polycystic kidney disease or PKD, is a genetic disorder in which the kidneys become filled with hundreds of cysts, causing them to be larger than normal and to fail over time. PKD presents with high blood pressure, headaches, abdominal pain, blood in the urine, and excessive urination. Other symptoms include pain in the back, and cyst formation (renal and other organs). PKD comes in two varieties: autosomal dominant, which presents in adulthood, and autosomal recessive, which presents in infancy or even before birth. Treatment of PKD typically involves medications to control symptoms, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, surgery.