Definition

Noun: - A genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys, causing them to enlarge and often leading to impaired function and eventual kidney failure.

Usage

• The term is used as a medical diagnosis and in discussions of genetics, nephrology (kidney medicine), and chronic health conditions.
• It is often abbreviated as PKD.
• It functions as a singular, non-count noun when referring to the disease as a condition. It can be used in a countable sense when discussing types (e.g., autosomal dominant PKD).

Examples

• Noun:
  • Polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases.
  • Her family history includes polycystic kidney disease.
  • The patient was diagnosed with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

Advanced Usage

• "End-stage renal disease (ESRD) due to polycystic kidney disease": A common clinical outcome where PKD progresses to complete kidney failure, requiring dialysis or transplantation.
  • The transplant was necessary after he developed ESRD from polycystic kidney disease.

Variants and Related Words

• PKD: The standard abbreviation for polycystic kidney disease.
  • Research into new treatments for PKD is ongoing.
• Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD): The most common form, typically causing symptoms in adulthood.
• Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD): A rarer, more severe form that often presents in infancy or childhood.
• Renal cyst: A general term for a fluid-filled sac in the kidney; PKD involves the development of many renal cysts.

Synonyms

• Polycystic kidney disorder: A less common but synonymous term.
• Cystic kidney disease: A broader category that includes PKD.

Related Phrases

• Cyst growth: A key pathological process in the disease.
• Kidney enlargement: A primary physical manifestation of the disease.
• Renal failure: A major potential consequence of the disease.

Noun

1. kidney disease characterized by enlarged kidneys containing many cysts; often leads to kidney failure