Polycystic Kidney Disease — An Old Problem in a New Context

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is the most common inherited disorder that leads to renal failure in adults. It is not a subtle ailment. The kidneys enlarge, often massively, because of the formation of innumerable fluid-filled cysts, which cause renal insufficiency in half the affected persons before the age of 70. The Polycystic Kidney Research Foundation estimates that between 400,000 and 600,000 Americans and more than 5 million people worldwide are at risk for the disease. Early signs and symptoms include hematuria, flank and back pain, nocturia, dysuria, hypertension, and an enlarging abdomen.Despite its high prevalence among renal disorders . . .