If the disease is severe enough to cause high blood pressure, then progression to kidney failure usually occurs. Before everyone with high blood pressure writes me to ask if they have polycystic renal disease, let me make clear that the vast majority of people with high blood pressure, a very common disease, do not have polycystic renal disease, although most people with polycystic renal disease eventually develop high blood pressure. Cysts in other organs, particularly the liver, are often seen, but seldom cause problems. The cysts in the kidneys cause the organs to become very large, and a doctor can usually feel them when palpating the abdomen. There is no specific treatment for the condition, but measures should be taken to avoid damaging the kidneys further.
Contact sports are inadvisable, since trauma can cause bleeding in the cysts.
Kidney infections, which usually follow catheterization or cystoscopy, must be avoided. Hypertension must be aggressively treated. Dehydration and salt restriction should be avoided. Your letter raises an interesting question regarding eating meat. When someone with polycystic renal disease develops actual kidney failure, then protein must be limited, and meat of course is rich in protein.