Adult polycystic ("containing or made up of many cysts") kidney disease is characterized by large cysts in one or both kidneys; patients eventually die from renal failure or consequences of hypertension (high arterial blood pressure).

The two kidneys in the human body are located in the lumbar region. They filter the blood, excreting the end-products of body metabolism in the form of urine and regulating the concentrations of hydrogen, sodium, potassium, phosphate and other ions in the extrcellular fluid.

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, 301-496-3583,
  http://www.nih.gov (and select NIDDK).

Adult polycystic kidney disease is characterized by large cysts; patients eventually die from renal failure or consequences of hypertension

IMAGE CREDIT: K.Sutliff, SCIENCE.

The PKD1 gene maps to chromosome 16

• PKD1 entry in OMIM
• Location database