Polycystic Kidney Disease And Pregnancy

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in the kidneys. The kidneys are two organs, each about the size of a fist, located in the upper part of a person’s abdomen, toward the back. The kidneys filter wastes and extra fluid from the blood to form urine. They also regulate amounts of certain vital substances in the body.
So Can women with Polycystic kidney disease have a baby?
Women suffer from autosomal recessive PKD, which is a rare, inherited form of the disease. The cause is believed to be a genetic flaw. Parents without signs of the disease can have a baby who suffers from it, if both parents carry the abnormal gene. If only one parent carries the gene, the baby is safe but could act as a carrier and pass the gene to his or her own children.
Parents who do not have the disease can have a child with the disease, if both parents carry the abnormal gene and both pass the gene to their child.
If you are a carrier of this gene, there is a 25 percent chance, with each pregnancy, that your child will have this type of PKD.
Most of the women with PKD (80 percent) have successful and uneventful pregnancies. However, some women with PKD have an increased risk for serious complications for themselves and their babies. This includes women with PKD who also have:
high blood pressure
decreased kidney function
Women who have PKD with high blood pressure develop pre-eclampsia (or toxemia) in 40 percent of pregnancies. This is a life-threatening disorder for both the mother and baby, and it can develop suddenly and without warning. Therefore, all women with PKD, particularly those who also have high blood pressure, should be followed closely during their pregnancy by their doctor.