Management of ESRD in Patients With Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the leading hereditary cause of ESRD in the United States. Because of the renal and extrarenal manifestations of ADPKD, specific challenges exist caring for these patients once they reach ESRD. In this article, we report the overall outcomes of individuals with ADPKD after ESRD as compared with non-ADPKD patients. We also review the available literature concerning issues specific to dialysis or kidney transplantation. For the ADPKD patient on dialysis, we address the use of peritoneal dialysis, the management of renal cystic, and extrarenal complications, and we discuss the significance of the relative polycythemia often observed in this population. For the ADPKD patient undergoing kidney transplantation, we highlight issues of anemia management and aneurysm screening pretransplant, the indications for nephrectomy of the native ADPKD kidneys, the potential benefits of select immunosuppressive agents, the role for combined kidney-liver transplantation, and renal and extrarenal complications of ADPKD postkidney transplantation. In general, patients with ADPKD have more favorable outcomes after ESRD as compared with those with other causes of kidney failure. Most of our knowledge, however, is based on case series and observational studies. Although these reports have certainly been valuable to our understanding, there still remains considerable uncertainty and ambiguity in many aspects of ADPKD patient care as it relates to ESRD. Particular focus needs to be placed on performing clinical trials with the goal of enhancing outcomes and quality of life of patients with ADPKD.