How is polycystic kidney disease treated?
Disease description:
During this period, I have been feeling discomfort in my abdomen and often experience sharp pain in my waist area. When I went to the hospital for examination, I was told that I have polycystic kidney disease. I have never heard of this condition before, and I would like to know how this disease is generally treated.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Common treatment approaches for polycystic kidney disease:
1. Monitoring and evaluation: Regular kidney function tests and imaging examinations (such as ultrasound or CT scans) to track cyst growth and changes in kidney function.
2. Medication: Certain medications, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, may help lower blood pressure, slow cyst growth, and protect kidney function.
3. Pain management: If cysts cause pain by pressing on surrounding tissues, over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen may be used, or prescription-strength analgesics if necessary.
4. Surgical intervention: Large cysts that cause severe symptoms or complications may require procedures such as cyst drainage combined with sclerosing agent injection, or in extreme cases, partial or total nephrectomy.
5. Lifestyle modifications: Maintaining good blood pressure control, a low-salt diet helps manage blood pressure; avoiding excessive fatigue to prevent kidney damage; limiting caffeine and alcohol intake to reduce the burden on the kidneys.
