Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a complex condition that can impact your health in many ways. To manage PKD properly, you need more than a nephrologist. You need a team of doctors and nurses with adequate expertise in PKD working together.

At Swedish, our goal is to give patients comprehensive, individualized care. Our team includes leading experts in managing PKD, including, but not limited to:

• Adult and pediatric nephrologists
• A transplant nephrologist
• A nephrology nurse
• A liver specialist
• Surgeons
• Interventional radiologists

All have vast experience in managing this complex disease. 

Most importantly, we understand what it is like to live with PKD. We are here to address all of your needs, from pain management and family counseling to providing access to promising new drug therapies. 

In our comprehensive approach to treat PKD, we address multiple disease aspects, including the physical and psychosocial burden. We start with individualized recommendations for dietary changes, water intake and lifestyle modifications, followed by medical treatment.

Our Services

Dr. Amro, director of the program, is a national expert in PKD. He and his team have extensive experience in PKD management, and can offer patients access to cutting edge new therapies.

Treatments may include: 

• Diet and lifestyle modification 
• Counseling and family support
• Genetic counseling and testing 
• Medications including tolvaptan and octreotide
• Interventional radiology (drains cysts in kidney and liver)
• Screening and treatment of brain aneurysms which can occur in patients with PKD
• Surgical approach including nephrectomy (kidney removal) and cysts reduction in selected cases 
• Supporting kidney transplant and dialysis, including home dialysis for patients with advanced disease

Educational resources