"Hi, thank you for your question.
Polycystic kidney disease (PCKD) is a progressive disease. Kidney failure is one of the many complications of PCKD. On average, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) starts to decrease by approximately 5 mL/min/year in your 40s. By the age of 75, 50 to 75% of patients wll develop kidney failure requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation. The severity and progression of PCKD differs greatly from one person to another, even among members of the same family.

Factors predicting more rapid progression to kidney failure include earlier age of diagnosis, male, mutation in PKD1 gene, larger / rapidly increasing kidney size, hypertension, gross haematuria, worsening proteinuria and sickle cell trait. Kidney and cyst volume measurements are very helpful in predicting the risk of progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end stage renal disease (ESRD), even before changes in blood or urine tests are found.

There is no way to cure PCKD but you may slow down the disease progression by following a healthy lifestyle, for example:

1. Keep blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels under control by taking your medications regularly
2. Eat a healthy diet low in salt
3. Exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes a day 5 times a week
4. Maintain a healthy weight
5. Quit smoking
6. Drink alcohol in moderation
7. Take prescribed medications as advised
8. Do not overdose yourself with over-the-counter medications and supplements

Doctors have also discovered a new drug – vasopressin antagonist Tolvaptan, which could be used to delay disease progression in PCKD patients in long term. New version of this drug – Lixivaptan can help to prevent progression and avoid the need for dialysis or kidney transplantation in PCKD patients.