Acquired Cystic Kidney Disease
Kidney Health Care - David Mangusan Jr., PTRP
Sponsored Ads
Acquired cystic kidney disease, or ACKD, is a condition in which the kidneys develop fluid-filled sacs called renal (kidney) cysts. ACKD can occur in children and adults. The cysts are more likely to develop in people who have been on dialysis for many years. Dialysis, however, does not cause cysts to develop. ACKD is usually caused by kidney failure.
Most cases of cysts are harmless and do not require treatment. In some cases, infection in the cyst can occur. Sometimes the cysts bleed and blood will appear in the urine. Blood in the urine should always be reported to a doctor.
Causes of ACKD
Dialysis filters out many, but not all, of the wastes that healthy kidneys remove. Researchers believe that an unidentified waste product not removed through dialysis causes cysts to form in the kidneys. Dialysis itself does not cause the cysts.
Difference between polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD)
ACKD differs from PKD differs in many ways. People with PKD often have family history of PKD. In PKD, the kidneys enlarge and cysts also form in other parts of the body. ACKD, on the other hand, does not cause the kidneys to enlarge and cysts do not form in other parts of the body. In PKD, the presence of cysts marks the start of the disease. People with ACKD already have chronic kidney disease when cysts develop.
Symptoms of ACKD
ACKD often has no symptoms. However, when a cyst becomes infected, a person may have fever and back pain. A person may notice blood in the urine, which may indicate that there is bleeding in the cyst.
Diagnosis of ACKD
A doctor may suspect ACKD based on the patient’s history and symptoms. Imaging tests, such as ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be ordered by the doctor to confirm the diagnosis. In addition, images of the kidnes may help the doctor distinguish ACKD from PKD
Treatment of ACKD
No treatment is needed if ACKD is not causing discomfort or pain. Infections are treated with a course of antibiotics. If large cysts are causing pain, they may be drained using a long needle inserted through the skin.
If tumors are suspected, a person may need regular examinations to monitor the kidneys for cancer. Some doctors recommend all patients be screened for kidney cancer after 3 years of dialysis. In rare cases, surgery is used to stop cysts from bleeding and to remove tumors or suspected tumors.
In transplantation, the diseased kidneys are left in place unless they are causing infection or high blood pressure. ACKD usually disappears, even in the diseased kidneys, after a person receives a transplanted kidney.
Source: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). NIH Publication No. 09–6403, May 2009
[Top of Page]
Most cases of cysts are harmless and do not require treatment. In some cases, infection in the cyst can occur. Sometimes the cysts bleed and blood will appear in the urine. Blood in the urine should always be reported to a doctor.
Causes of ACKD
Dialysis filters out many, but not all, of the wastes that healthy kidneys remove. Researchers believe that an unidentified waste product not removed through dialysis causes cysts to form in the kidneys. Dialysis itself does not cause the cysts.
Difference between polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD)
ACKD differs from PKD differs in many ways. People with PKD often have family history of PKD. In PKD, the kidneys enlarge and cysts also form in other parts of the body. ACKD, on the other hand, does not cause the kidneys to enlarge and cysts do not form in other parts of the body. In PKD, the presence of cysts marks the start of the disease. People with ACKD already have chronic kidney disease when cysts develop.
Symptoms of ACKD
ACKD often has no symptoms. However, when a cyst becomes infected, a person may have fever and back pain. A person may notice blood in the urine, which may indicate that there is bleeding in the cyst.
Diagnosis of ACKD
A doctor may suspect ACKD based on the patient’s history and symptoms. Imaging tests, such as ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be ordered by the doctor to confirm the diagnosis. In addition, images of the kidnes may help the doctor distinguish ACKD from PKD
Treatment of ACKD
No treatment is needed if ACKD is not causing discomfort or pain. Infections are treated with a course of antibiotics. If large cysts are causing pain, they may be drained using a long needle inserted through the skin.
If tumors are suspected, a person may need regular examinations to monitor the kidneys for cancer. Some doctors recommend all patients be screened for kidney cancer after 3 years of dialysis. In rare cases, surgery is used to stop cysts from bleeding and to remove tumors or suspected tumors.
In transplantation, the diseased kidneys are left in place unless they are causing infection or high blood pressure. ACKD usually disappears, even in the diseased kidneys, after a person receives a transplanted kidney.
Source: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). NIH Publication No. 09–6403, May 2009
[Top of Page]
