PKD Awareness Day Date in the current year: September 4, 2024

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD), also known as polycystic kidney syndrome, is caused by an abnormal genes that produce a specific abnormal protein, which has an adverse effect on the development of the renal tubules in the nephrons. The cysts that develop as a result are essentially non-functioning tubules that are filled with fluid. They may begin to develop at any age, from in utero to adulthood. As the cysts grow, they affect adjacent healthy tubules, eventually rendering them non-functional and compromising kidney function. They can vary in size from microscopic to enormous, some growing as large as a football.

There are two types of PKD: autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). ADPKD is the more common of the two. It is usually milder than the other type; some patients with ADPKD might have a relatively normal life. ARPDK is a rare type of PKD; it can lead to kidney failure by the age of 40–60.

The main signs and symptoms of PKD include abdominal pain, high blood pressure, headaches, excessive urination, and blood in the urine. To confirm the diagnosis, an abdominal CT scan is performed, as well as an ultrasound and MRI of the same area.

There is no cure for PKD and no way to stop the progression of the cysts. Treatment during the early stages of the disease usually involves management of complications such as hypertension and infection. If and when the disease progresses to the point of kidney failure, patients receive renal replacement therapy (dialysis or kidney transplantation, if eligible and if a suitable match can be found).

The first treatment for PKD, Tolvaptan (sold under the brand names Jinarc, Jynarque, Samsca, and others), was approved for medical use in the United States in 2018. It improves kidney function, but does not cure the disease, so it is extremely important to raise global awareness of PKD and support efforts to find the cure for this very common disorder.

PKD Awareness Day originated in Canada. It has been organized by Health Canada, a government agency responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health, since 2014. Since its inception, the initiative has been adopted by some other countries because PKD affects millions of people around the globe regardless of their race and gender.

The main goals of PKD Awareness Day are to educate the general public about the disease and to raise funds to support PKD patients and research into a cure. You can get involved with the campaign by learning more about PKD, sharing your experience with the disease if you have any and if you are feeling comfortable with sharing, donating to an organization that supports PKD patients or funds research, and spreading the word on social media with the hashtags #PKDAwarenessDay and #EndPKD.