PKD equally affects men and women, regardless of age, race or ethnic origin. In the 1700 and 1800s, PKD was often given the label of Bright's Disease. This term encompassed any of several kidney diseases marked especially by protein in the urine. With the presence of PKD, cysts develop in both kidneys. Cysts are sacs of fluid that cause the kidney to enlarge and can hinder its ability to remove harmful toxins from the body.
Cysts also squeeze on blood vessels forcing the pressure to rise.
More than 60 percent of PKD patients will suffer from kidney failure. Dialysis and transplantation are available treatments, however both have side effects and neither is curative. Fear, denial and ignorance of the disease are PKD's greatest obstacles. The PKD Foundation, in partnership with volunteers around the world, works to educate the general public and the medical community about this disease. To this end, The PKD Foundation awarded Drs.