Featuring Priya Deshpande, MDReviewed by Alexandra Schwarz, MD | October 31, 2024

Early detection is often helpful for managing chronic illnesses like polycystic kidney disease, or PKD. This disease is progressive — usually getting worse over time. Early diagnosis and treatment may help slow the progression of PKD.

That said, PKD doesn’t always cause symptoms, especially in the beginning. This is why screening may play an important role if you know that PKD runs in your family.

What are the signs of polycystic kidney disease?

Since PKD is sometimes asymptomatic at first, the first signs may appear at the doctor’s office. One of the first signs of PKD may be high blood pressure, which is generally less common in younger adults. People with the adult form of PKD may start to have high blood pressure in their 20s or 30s, or sooner.

Other symptoms of PKD you may notice include:

Blood in urine, which may be caused by a ruptured cyst
Flank pain, or pain in the mid-back on either side
Kidney stones, which may occur in about 20 percent of people with PKD
Headaches

When do the symptoms of polycystic kidney disease start?

The average age of diagnosis for the adult form of PKD is between 30 and 50. This is generally when symptoms appear, although they can start earlier.

How quickly PKD progresses depends on a few factors. Some people have PKD that progresses more quickly than others, which may lead to a faster decline in kidney function. These individuals may benefit from more aggressive treatment.

How do you know if polycystic kidney disease runs in your family?

Many people know they may have PKD before symptoms appear. This is because PKD is often inherited. When people have a family history of PKD, they may seek regular screening to help detect it early.

But some people may have a family history of PKD and not know it. For example, you may know that many of your older family members from different generations have been on dialysis, but you don’t know why. This may be a clue that PKD is running in your family. In that case, that’s a sign that you should seek screening.

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References

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