Although kidney cysts can be diagnosed at any age, the majority of cases are identified through renal ultrasound or shortly after a baby is born. The severity of this condition is highly variable. In some instances, people make it to adulthood without serious problems. However, if the condition occurs before birth and is so severe that the kidneys cannot function, there may not be adequate amniotic fluid because fetal urine is an important component of amniotic fluid. Fetal lung development is also impacted when there is inadequate amniotic fluid, according to the ARPKC-CHF Alliance.
Renal Dysplasia
A 2004 article in the "Journal of the American Society of Nephrology" explains that renal dysplasia occurs when the kidneys fail to form properly in utero. Tissue fails to differentiate properly into nephrons and collecting ducts. In many instances, the glomeruli are disconnected from the collecting tubules so there is nowhere for urine to go. Consequently, it remains in the kidneys and cysts begin to form.
Although renal dysplasia is the leading cause of renal failure in children, many children do quite well and do not experience serious renal problems until adulthood.
ARPKD
Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease can be diagnosed in utero via ultrasound. A recessive gene causes this disease. If both parents have this particular gene, 25 percent of their offspring will have ARPKD. There is no cure for ARPKD. According to the ARPKD-CHF Alliance, early newborn death occurs up to 50 percent of the time. However, children who survive infancy have a good chance of thriving with some type of renal replacement such as transplantation or dialysis.
ADPKD
ADPKD stands for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. This condition is far more common than the recessive variant. According to 2005 information from the New York University Division of Nephrology, ADPKD affects over 500,000 individuals in the United States and 12 million worldwide, and it is the fourth leading cause of kidney failure in the United States--diabetes, hypertension and glomerular disease being the first three. In many cases, ADPKD does not produce symptoms and the patient does not realize that he has the disease until adulthood.
