Renal cysts are a result of polycystic kidney disease. The Mayo Clinic states these benign cysts contain fluid similar to water and form groups in the kidneys. Renal cysts may be accompanied by similar cysts throughout the body. Even though these are non-cancerous, they can cause problems such as kidney failure and hypertension. Renal cysts may or may not produce any symptoms.
Hypertension
The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension. While this may be a common symptom for several diseases and may occur naturally as a person ages, it can be a symptom of renal cysts causing polycystic kidney disease. The cysts essentially make the heart work harder and pump faster to transport blood throughout his body. The cause for the hypertension may be discovered through medical tests such as ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRI) or computerized tomography scans (CT).
Pain
The renal cysts may cause pain in several ways. For example, the person suffering from polycystic kidney disease may have pain in her sides or back near the kidneys. This may occur because the cysts force the kidneys to become enlarged. Pain also may occur in the form of headaches, although this symptom may be harder to connect logically with this condition. Renal cysts also may induce the formation of kidney stones. While these small stones do not cause pain while they are in the kidneys, they can cause excruciating pain when they begin to pass from the kidneys to the bladder and out of the body, the National Institutes of Health reports.
Infections
The presence of renal cysts also may cause infections, primarily in the kidneys or in the entire urinary tract. The Cleveland Clinic reports that dysuria, or pain while urinating, is the symptom most commonly associated with urinary tract infections. When these bacterial infections occur in the kidneys, they tend to give the person a general feeling of illness known as malaise.
Kidney Failure
The kidneys are used by the body to eliminate toxins from the person's system. Kidneys essentially are filters that remove these toxins. Renal cysts, as well as other medical conditions, can lead to kidney failure. When kidney function is failing, the organs do not eliminate all of the toxins, which in turn can cause other illnesses to occur.
