Final answer:
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder where abnormal cysts develop in the kidneys, and can lead to symptoms like high blood pressure and abdominal pain, as well as kidney failure, for which a kidney transplant may be necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of multiple abnormal cysts in the kidneys. These cysts can result in high blood pressure, headaches, abdominal pain, blood in the urine, and changes in urination patterns. If PKD is not managed, it may lead to kidney failure, necessitating a kidney transplant or hemodialysis to sustain life. PKD is one of the most common hereditary diseases in the United States and affects both kidneys typically. The disorder can be inherited as an autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive trait and has no significant differences in occurrence rates between genders or ethnic groups.
There is no known cure for PKD other than a kidney transplant, and it is listed as a cause of congenital kidney diseases alongside conditions like congenital hydronephrosis and unilateral small kidney. Diagnosis of PKD can often be made through patient history, and in some cases, cause identification might be retrospective for those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) of unknown origins.