Study and Management of Cystic Complications in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is characterised by the development of renal and hepatic cysts. While the main complication is chronic end-stage renal failure, specific cyst-related complications are common: intracystic haemorrhage, renal or hepatic cyst infections, cyst-related mechanical complications and lithiasis. To date, there is no reliable epidemiological data on the frequency and clinical impact of these complications. Diagnosis of these complications is often complicated, and their management has not been codified. The latest international recommendations (KDIGO) provide only low-level recommendations. For the most complex cases (recurrent cystic infections, resistant pain, mechanical complications and malnutrition, need for pre-transplant nephrectomy, etc.), practitioners are often at a loss and management varies greatly from one centre to another.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is characterised by the development of renal and hepatic cysts. While the main complication is chronic end-stage renal failure, specific cyst-related complications are common: intracystic haemorrhage, renal or hepatic cyst infections, cyst-related mechanical complications and lithiasis. To date, there is no reliable epidemiological data on the frequency and clinical impact of these complications. Diagnosis of these complications is often complicated, and their management has not been codified. The latest international recommendations (KDIGO) provide only low-level recommendations. For the most complex cases (recurrent cystic infections, resistant pain, mechanical complications and malnutrition, need for pre-transplant nephrectomy, etc.), practitioners are often at a loss and management varies greatly from one centre to another.