How is cystic kidney disease treated?

How is cystic kidney disease treated?

• Congenital cysts
• Care is focused on maintaining an adequate daily intake of fluids and sodium to compensate for the excessive excretion of sodium and the production of large volumes of dilute urine. Enlarged kidneys can interfere with breathing and other functions necessitating surgical intervention.
• Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
• There is no cure as of yet. Primary treatment is focused on controlling disease-associated symptoms such as high blood pressure. Many of these patients, perhaps half, will have significant pain from kidney stones, blood clots and infection. Women with ADPKD are at significant risk of urinary tract infections. Surgical intervention in appropriate cases may provide relief from pain and other symptoms for several years. Minimally invasive (laparoscopic) surgical techniques, many of which have been developed at Cleveland Clinic, have produced excellent results.
• Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease
• There is no cure as yet for ARPKD. In childhood, treatment is focused on supportive measures such as dialysis. Blood pressure medications may be used to control hypertension. Advanced disease may require dialysis. Enlarged kidneys may affect breathing and other functions necessitating kidney removal.
• Nephronophthisis-medullary cystic disease
• Salt supplementation may improve kidney function and slow the deterioration of the kidneys. End stage kidney disease is treated with dialysis and may be followed by kidney transplantation.
• Acquired renal cysts
• Salt supplementation can improve or stabilize kidney functions and slow the destruction of the kidneys. Bleeding is a concern. Bed rest and mild analgesics can often control mild bleeding episodes associated with the disease. End-stage disease requires dialysis or kidney transplantation.
• Simple renal cysts
• Observation is the treatment for most of these cysts. Minor cysts are usually managed with medications to relieve pain. There are a variety of minimally invasive surgical options to improve blood and urine flow, and to remove affected sections of the kidney.
• Medullary sponge kidney
• There is no cure for MSK. Treatment is focused on reducing the appearance of kidney stones and urinary infections.
• Malignant cysts
• When these turn cancerous, the treatment is similar to that for kidney cancer. Nephrectomy, surgical removal of the kidney, is the standard of care.