Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a hereditary disease where fluid-filled cysts develop in each kidney. Cysts become very large, multiply, and reduce the kidney’s function. A normal kidney is the size of a human fist, but PKD kidneys can become the size of a football weighing 30 lbs each.
It’s one of the most common, life threatening genetic diseases, affecting more people than Down Syndrom
e, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and sickle cell anemia combined. There is no known cure for PKD and does not skip a generation. It affects men, women and children, no matter their origin.
PKD comes in two forms:
1. Autosomal Dominant (ADPKD) appears in adulthood. If one parent has it, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. This form of PKD affects 1 in 500 worldwide.
2. Autosomal Recessive (ARPKD) appears in childhood. Parents are carriers of the gene and this form of PKD affects 1 in 20,000 children worldwide. This can cause mortality in the first months of life.
66,000 Canadians of which 6,500 Quebecers are dealing with PKD. Due to symptoms being confused with other health issues, an estimated 16,500 Quebecers are at risk. Symptoms like high blood pressure, pain in the back and side of the stomach, urinary tract infections, kidneys stones, are common. Over 60% of PKD patients will need dialysis or transplant to live.
The Montreal Chapter of the PKD Foundation of Canada is based in Dollard-Des-Ormeaux. Volunteer members raise awareness via educational meetings and raise funds for much needed research in order to find a cure for PKD.
We hope you will join us for this year’s Walk for PKD/Marche pour MPR on September 17, 2016 at 9am, at the Civic Centre in DDO. Visit: www.endpkd.ca/walkforpkd/ or call: 514-501-9924.
My name is Luisa Miniaci-Di Leo, and I’m the Montreal Chapter Coordinator. I have PKD, and so does my son. Montreal will help END PKD! “
