Multiple Cysts on Kidneys Cause

In clinic, there are mainly two kinds of Kidney Cysts including Simple Kidney Cysts and Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).


1. Simple Kidney Cysts is very common among the elderly above 50 years old. With age, its incidence will also rise. Simple Kidney Cysts typically occur as one cyst on the surface of a kidney. But Simple Kidney Cysts can occur as multiple cysts affecting on or both kidneys. Usually Simple Kidney Cysts don’t cause signs or symptoms usually don’t require treatment. However, if the cysts enlarge above 5 cm, they will injury renal function. In this case, you must receive treatment as early as possible.


2. Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a more serious kidney disease than Simple Kidney Disease. Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a common genetic disease with high heritability. However, in some cases, the patients may have no family history and the disease is caused by gene mutation. In Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), usually both of the patients’ kidneys are covered with multiple cysts. In the early decades of years, the patients do not present symptoms at all. However, with age, the cysts will enlarge gradually. Generally speaking, the symptoms such as back pain, high blood pressure, high creatinine etc begin to occur between age 30~40. The enlarged cysts will oppress the surrounding normal nephrons thus causing renal function decline.

At present, there is no cure for PKD at all. Approximately 50% of the patients will develop Renal Failure by age 60 and have to require dialysis or kidney transplant.

However, if the patients can receive proper treatment as early as possible, they will be able to stop renal function decline and avoid the destiny of Renal Failure.