Kidney Transplant Treats Polycystic Kidney Disease and Helps a 47-year-old Revive his Kidney and Renal Functioning

Naveen (name changed), a 47-year-old man resident of Chitradurga, Karnataka, was successfully treated and operated with kidney transplantation in BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital, Kengeri, earlier, suffering from Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).  

A rare genetic disorder, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease primarily affects the kidneys. The symptoms of ADPKD begins to appear only by the age of 30-40. In 90 per cent of the cases, with the eventual development of the kidney disease, the infected person inherits the disease from a disease carrier parent. 

With ADPKD, a patient develops small fluid-filled sacs called cysts in both the kidneys which eventually lead to kidney failure. According to a study, ADPKD is the fourth leading cause of acute kidney failure. Over 50 per cent of the population with the disease will suffer from kidney failure by the age of 50. The disease is not preventable as it is said to be genetic in nature. 

Naveen is not the only person who is suffering from a kidney disorder in his family. One of Naveen’s sister was deceased by breast cancer and the other is under dialysis along with his brother for the past few years after the diagnosis of this his mother, twin brother and sister with the chronic kidney disease. Though, his mother passed away due to kidney failure at the age of 35 whereas his brother and sister still struggle to fight back the improper functioning of their kidneys. 

Dr Anil Kumar B.T, Senior Consultant Nephrologist & Transplant Physician, BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital says “Naveen and his family have been suffering enormously due to this genetic disorder for the past few years. When he came to the hospital his condition was already worse. He was under the dialysis for 11 years and continued till last month after which he was fortunate enough to receive organ and went through a kidney transplant. Due to the long duration of dialysis and CKD, he had developed severe bone weakness and became wheelchair-bound.” 

Soon after his dialysis began, he registered for a deceased donor kidney transplant in 2013. In the condition of deteriorating health, Naveen’s brother brought him to the hospital due to his severe abdominal pain and passing blood in the urine. His kidneys were also found to be in a condition of nephromegaly, where the kidneys swell up and become enlarged from their normal size, affecting its functioning. Subsequently, he developed Hepatitis C and his condition started to affect the other parts of his body, causing heart dysfunction, liver cirrhosis (failure), bleeding tendencies and bone-related complications due to long-standing chronic kidney disease. 

He had to undergo haemodialysis thrice a week, which was a practical and financial challenge for his ailing brother, who himself is on dialysis for the last 10 years. The panel of doctors and his brother felt by transplanting Naveen’s kidney, the burden would partially come down. Naveen’s case was complex due to his prolonged kidney disease, which led to affecting his liver, heart and bones. After a long wait for an organ he received a kidney from the deceased donor and the transplant was performed immediately without a further delay. 

After a long wait of 8 years, Naveen went through the kidney transplant in July 2019. Knowing the complications in the case, the nephrology team which was led by Dr. Anil Kumar B.T, Senior Consultant Nephrologist & Transplant Physician, in BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital with the support of Dr Farooq, Dr Nitin – Nephrologists, Dr Narendra, Dr Seshagiri Rao and Dr Moin – Transplant surgeons turned this kidney transplant into a success. With the recovery period of 15 days, Naveen’s kidney and renal functions have improved and eventually his health condition improved. 

If doctors were to be believed, then, in a couple of months, the bone damaging effects of kidney disease will be alleviated and he would be able to walk again.  

Dr Narendra S, Senior Consultant Urologist and Transplant Surgeon, BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital, said, “Doing Renal transplantation in CKD patient due to ADPKD is really challenging, because of huge native kidney and no space to keep the graft. This patient underwent bilateral Nephrectomy 6 years back for the discomfort caused by an enlargement of the kidney. We were able to do renal transplantation in spite of adhesion due to previous surgery, due to vast experience in doing complex cases routinely and state-of-the-art facilities in our centre.”