MEDICAL INSIDER
DR. RIA MASLOG
Cystic Disease of the kidneys
I read again on this condition since i have a case of a newborn
diagnosed with this congenital problem.
PolycystIc disease of the kidneys is almost always bilateral. It
has two types: the adult type and the infantile type.
The Adult type is not clinically apparent until middle life where
the renal function tests as well as urinalysis remain normal until
the kidneys become enlarged. This is inherited as an
autosomal dominant trait
The Infantile type can be diagnosed at birth because of the
abdominal distension caused by the presence of greatly
enlarged kidneys. Some babies are stillborn and those who
survived have a progressive renal insufficiency with or without
pyelonephritis. This, eventually, will result to death. This type is
associated with cystic disease of the liver and the biliary
system. This is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait
Multicystic kidney, on the other hand, is almost always
unilateral and the distortion of the renal structure is usually
greater than that which is seen in polycystic disease. The
kidney is usually nonfunctional an clinical manifestations may
vary according to its size and function. If it is small, it may be
unnoticed and if it is large, it may present as a huge abdominal
mass. This type may become the site of a recurrent infection,
especially, if it has some residual function.
Multicystic kidneys should be removed surgically because of
the risk of complications.
Because of the advancement of science and the presence of
more specialists, the diagnosis of this condition in the newborn
was done when the baby was still in the utero; thus upon
delivery, constant monitoring on the renal function is being
checked upon.