Polycystic Kidney Disease and Pregnancy

Polycystic Kidney Disease and Pregnancy

Any woman with Polycystic Kidney Disease should be constantly monitored by the doctor during their pregnancy. On one hand, most pregnant women with PKD have successful pregnancies; on the other hand, pregnancy may lead preeclampsia or miscarriage for PKD patients.

Risk of pregnancy for PKD patients

PKD patients are suggested to have a baby on the condition of stable kidney function. Due to the disease, pregnancy will overload the kidneys more, which may be a trigger of progressive kidney failure. This is dangerous for both mother-to-be and fetus.

Preeclampsia affects 5 to 8 percent of all pregnancies, which involves protein in urine and hypertension. You may also find other symptoms, such as sudden weight gain, headaches and changes in vision. Preeclampsica is a top factor to cause mother and infant illness and death.

Preparation for pregnancy

– Improve kidney function. Many treatments are available for Polycystic Kidney Disease. Besides drugs and surgery, natural treatments are also used to control PKD. Chinese Herbal Medicine, acupuncture, massage and Medicated Bath claim to control the cysts and improve kidney functon.

– Control blood pressure. High blood pressure is a common complication of both PKD and pregnancy. Hypertension increases the development of kidney failure, heart disease and stroke. It is dangerous for pregnancy.

– See your doctor at a regular basis. Talking with your doctor regularly is very important and beneficial to monitor the medical condition of mother-to-be and fetus.

Will I pass on PKD to my baby?

PKD is a typical inherited kidney disease. If one parent has the PKD history, the children will have as much as 50% chance to get the disease. If both parents have the disease, the children will have 75% of possibility to get PKD.

Autosomal recessive PKD can sometimes be detected before birth using a fetal ultrasound. It will show whether the fetus has enlarged kidneys, but it very rarely detects large cysts. Autosomal recessive PKD also scars the liver, so an image of that area can also help with diagnosis.