Cystic disease of the kidney is very common.

There are two common varieties of cystic disease seen in the practice.

The first are sporadic cysts, not genetically determined and generally require no specific treatment.

The second is adult polycystic kidney disease.

This is a genetic disease, and develops at varying rates of deterioration throughout a patients life.

Treatment is directed towards kidney complications of kidney cystic disease, high blood pressure and chronic renal impairment, as well as haemorrhage and infection of cysts.

Tight control of blood pressure will retard chronic renal failure.

Management of dyslipidaemia and hyperglycaemia will reduce cardiovascular risk of death (the usual consequences of chronic renal failure).

Patients with polycystic kidney disease generally have imaging of the renal cysts every two years, to exclude the development of complications to kidney cysts such as tumour.

Every five years they undergo a MRA (magnetic resonance angiogram) of the cerebral circulation, because of the increased incidence of cerebral aneurysm.

Genetic advice to the patient’s family is appropriate, but should be approached with tact.