Polycystic Kidney Disease Treatment in Turkey
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What is Polycystic Kidney Disease?
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an inherited genetic disorder in which numerous fluid-filled cysts develop in the kidneys. As cysts grow and multiply, the kidneys may become enlarged, and their ability to filter blood can gradually decline. PKD can also affect organs outside the kidneys, particularly the liver and blood vessels. The two main forms are autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD), which usually develops in adulthood, and autosomal recessive PKD (ARPKD), which often presents during infancy or childhood.
What is the Importance of Timely Treatment?
Timely diagnosis and regular monitoring can help detect high blood pressure, declining kidney function, increasing kidney volume and other complications. In adults with ADPKD who are at risk of rapid disease progression, appropriate assessment can help identify patients who may benefit from disease-modifying treatment such as tolvaptan. Early management of blood pressure and other complications can also help protect kidney function.
What are the Common Symptoms of Polycystic Kidney Disease?
- Pain in the back, sides or abdomen
- High blood pressure
- Blood in the urine
- Recurrent urinary tract or kidney cyst infections
- Kidney stones
- Increased abdominal fullness due to enlarged kidneys or liver cysts
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination or other urinary changes
- Reduced kidney function
- Swelling in advanced kidney disease
- Symptoms related to kidney failure in severe disease
Causes and Risk Factors of Polycystic Kidney Disease
Causes
- PKD is caused by disease-causing genetic variants that affect kidney cell development and function. ADPKD is most commonly associated with variants in the PKD1 or PKD2 genes and is usually inherited from one affected parent.
- ARPKD is caused by variants in the PKHD1 gene and occurs when a child inherits disease-causing variants from both parents.
- In some cases, a new genetic variant may occur without a known family history.
Risk Factors
- Having a parent with ADPKD
- Family history of PKD
- Inheriting disease-causing variants associated with PKD
- Having a sibling or close relative with PKD
- Genetic factors associated with more rapid disease progression
- High blood pressure, which can accelerate kidney damage
- Increasing kidney size or total kidney volume in ADPKD
- Reduced kidney function or evidence of rapid eGFR decline
Latest Research and Technologies in the Treatment of Polycystic Kidney Disease in Turkey
Specialised nephrology centres in Turkey use advanced imaging, including MRI, to assess total kidney volume and estimate the risk of disease progression in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Other advances in PKD management focus on early diagnosis, imaging-based risk assessment and slowing disease progression. MRI and other advanced imaging techniques can help quantify kidney size and cyst burden, while genetic testing can support diagnosis and family counselling in selected patients. Research continues into additional disease-modifying therapies, biomarkers and approaches aimed at slowing cyst growth and kidney-function decline.
Treatment options for Polycystic Kidney Disease
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) : PD offers excellent, continuous fluid removal, gentler blood pressure control, and fewer needle sticks, making it a popular home-based option.
Cost Start From 120Explore Options
Hemodialysis (HD) : Hemodialysis allows for aggressive fluid removal during sessions to help manage fluid-dependent hypertension.
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Kidney Transplantation : Advanced PKD may eventually cause kidney failure. Patients with kidney failure may require hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or kidney transplantation depending on their medical condition and eligibility.
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- Clinical assessment:
- Medical and Nephrological Evaluation: A detailed history assesses family history of PKD, blood pressure, urinary symptoms, flank or abdominal pain, kidney stones, urinary infections, blood in the urine and symptoms of declining kidney function.
- Kidney Function Assessment: Blood tests, including serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), assess kidney function. Urinalysis and urine protein or albumin measurements may help identify additional kidney abnormalities.
- Blood Pressure Assessment: Regular blood-pressure measurement is important because hypertension is common in ADPKD and can contribute to faster kidney-function decline and cardiovascular complications.
- Family and Genetic Assessment: A detailed family history can help identify inherited disease. Genetic testing may be considered when the diagnosis is uncertain, when there is no clear family history, for selected living kidney donors, or when information is needed for family or reproductive counselling.
- Risk and Prognostic Assessment: In adults with ADPKD, clinicians may assess the likelihood of rapid progression using kidney size, eGFR trajectory, age, and the PROPKD score. These assessments can help determine whether to consider disease-modifying treatment.
- Imaging Tests:
- Renal Ultrasound: Commonly used to detect kidney cysts and assess kidney size and structure.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Provides detailed assessment of kidney and cyst volume and can support Mayo Imaging Classification for risk stratification.
- Computed Tomography (CT): May provide detailed anatomical information and can help evaluate kidney stones, bleeding, cyst complications or other abdominal conditions. Low-dose CT may also be considered for kidney-volume assessment when MRI is unavailable or unsuitable.
- Liver Imaging: Ultrasound, CT, or MRI may evaluate liver cysts and other abdominal complications.
- Brain Vascular Imaging: Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) may be considered in selected patients to evaluate intracranial aneurysms, particularly when clinical or family-history factors indicate increased risk.
MediRehab (a chain of Rehab centres, part of MediGence) provides comprehensive tele-rehabilitation services designed to support Polycystic Kidney Disease patients in Turkey. These Services include:
- Physical Activity and Exercise: Regular, appropriate physical activity can help maintain strength, cardiovascular health and healthy body weight. Adapt activities when enlarged kidneys, pain, or other complications limit certain movements.
- Pain and Mobility Management: Physiotherapy may help patients manage chronic musculoskeletal discomfort, improve posture and maintain safe mobility. Patients with significantly enlarged or symptomatic kidneys may need individual assessment for high-impact or contact activities.
- Nutritional Support: A renal dietitian can guide sodium intake, healthy weight management, hydration, and other dietary considerations based on kidney function and blood pressure.
- Fatigue and Energy Management: Activity planning, adequate sleep, appropriate exercise and management of anemia or advanced kidney disease can help reduce the effect of fatigue on daily activities.
- Psychological and Long-Term Support: Counselling, genetic counselling and patient education can help individuals and families cope with an inherited condition, long-term monitoring, reproductive considerations and the possibility of future kidney replacement therapy.
- Medicines for PKD are used to control blood pressure, manage symptoms and, in selected patients with rapidly progressive ADPKD, slow the decline in kidney function. ACE inhibitors or ARBs may be used for blood-pressure control, while other antihypertensive medicines may be added when required. Prescribers may prescribe pain medicines and antibiotics for cyst-related pain, infections, or other complications, depending on the underlying cause.
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Hospitals for Polycystic Kidney Disease in Turkey
I.A.U VM Medical Park Florya Hospital
Istanbul, Turkey
I.A.U VM Medical Park Florya Hospital located in Istanbul, Turkey is accredited by JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- Situated on an area of 51.000 m2
- Capacity of 300 beds
- 13 Operating rooms
- 92 Polyclinics
- Emergency Unit
- Intensive care Unit
- Parking lots
- Places of worship
- Rooms designed according to different needs offer the comfort of a 5-star hotel
- Special services are provided in all rooms, from television with domestic and foreign channels to internet service, from patient-specific diet menu to newspaper and magazine service
- Cafe/Restaurant with delicious menu
Medical Park Bahcelievler Hospital
Istanbul, Turkey
Medical Park Bahcelievler Hospital located in Istanbul, Turkey is accredited by JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- Covers an area of 33.000 m
- 19-storey Hospital Building
- Capacity for 242 beds
- 89 Outpatient clinic rooms
- 10 Operating rooms
- 24 Newborn Incubators
- 6 Paediatric Intensive Care Beds
- 28 Adult Intensive Care beds
- 6 CVS and 12 cardiology intensive care beds
- Luxurious & comfortable rooms like of 5-star hotel rooms for patients
- Free Wi-fi
- Parking lot
- Place of worship
- Cafe/Restaurant
Biruni University Hospital
Istanbul, Turkey
Biruni University Hospital started to serve in 2016. It is a full-fledged multi-specialty healthcare facility, situated in Istanbul, Turkey. The hospital is well-known for its outstanding medical care standards, and it has acquired numerous certificates from international quality organizations. It is a renowned & well-established healthcare facility that provides cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment approaches. They have a team of highly skilled doctors and surgeons on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to deliver the best medical care possible.
The hospital has various medical departments such as Cardiology, Neurology, Urology, Rheumatology, Pediatrics, General Medicine and Surgery, Gastroenterology, etc. Popular treatments conducted at the hospital are Pediatric Neurology, Cardiac Stenting, Balloon Angioplasty, Bypass surgery, plastic surgery procedures like Hair transplant, & Botox injections, and many more. The hospital is known for its most valuable service i.e. service to human health. Hospital management & professionals define their service concept with the significance attached to the belief. The management is concerned with both medical statistics and, above all, the satisfaction of the patients. Patients from other countries are well looked after. The hospital offers international patients a relaxing and secure environment in terms of psychology, comfort, and health.
The hospital's primary purpose is to provide world-class patient-centered health care through our highly responsible team who can produce information and use it appropriately. With its university-based scientific infrastructure and competent health care, the hospital's management has long-term plans for it, with a desire to be an innovative and leading health institution that is regarded as a reference in the country and around the world. Several value-added services and quality policies are available at the facility. To mention a few, the hospital is open to development and technology, continuously measuring and improving, training qualified health professionals, caring about patient and employee satisfaction, and becoming mobilized to bring an environment of reliable diagnosis, treatment, and care to the majority of the society.
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Why Choose Turkey for Polycystic Kidney Disease Treatment?
- Specialist Kidney Care: Nephrologists can assess PKD progression, manage high blood pressure and address complications affecting kidney function.
- Diagnostic and Genetic Assessment: Depending on the centre, evaluation may include kidney ultrasound, MRI, kidney-function tests and genetic counselling or testing when indicated.
- Individualised Treatment Planning: Eligible adults with ADPKD may be assessed for tolvaptan, alongside blood-pressure control, lifestyle guidance and regular monitoring.
- Management of Complications: Multidisciplinary care may involve urology, radiology, genetics and other specialties when patients develop kidney stones, cyst complications or liver involvement.
- Dialysis and Transplant Services: Hospitals with appropriate kidney-care programmes may offer haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation for eligible patients with kidney failure.
- Support for International Patients: Some hospitals offer assistance with medical-record review, consultations, treatment coordination and follow-up planning. Patients should confirm the services available at their chosen centre before travelling.
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Reviewer
Dr. Akash Khandelwal
Hematologist
9 Years of Experience
Dr. Akash Khandelwal is a distinguished Hematologist, Hemato-oncologist, and Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Physician with extensive training from the prestigious AIIMS New Delhi. His expertise encompasses a wide range of specialized techniques in bone marrow transplantation, including autologous and allogeneic transplants such as matched sibling donors, matched unrelated donors (MUD), and haploidentical donor transplants. Dr. Khandelwal has personally supervised and conducted over 100 bone marrow transplants. View More
Last Reviewed - January 2026