On palpation you can get above them and on percussion a resonant note is obtained over them. You might also expect the patient s blood pressure to be raised. It is transmitted as an autosomal dominant condition, although in some patients it may arise through spontaneous mutation. APKD remains dormant for many years with normal kidney function being retained until middle age. Frank, painless haematuria is a presenting symptom in approximately a quarter of patients.
Hypertension is common and is frequently present before development of renal impairment.
It may contribute to cerebral haemorrhage and progression to renal failure. Pain is a frequent complaint and may be associated with cyst or kidney size. Berry aneurysms are associated with APKD and subarachnoid haemorrhage and intracerebral haemorrhage is a major cause of death in these patients. Neoplastic changes may arise in the polycystic kidney. Cysts may arise in the liver and very rarely in the pancreas, spleen, and ovary.