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When a patient learns about their diagnosis of PKD, the first question that comes up is whether it is treatable. To understand what treatment could work to slow the disease, a brief detour into the role of a hormone called anti-diuretic hormone (ADH, also known as vasopressin), is necessary.
The Role of ADH in PKD
ADH helped life evolve from oceans to land, eons ago. If it weren’t for ADH, many living organisms would be unable to withstand the harsh dehydrating influence of the warmer land surface under a blazing sun.
How does ADH fit into the discussion on CKD? Studies have shown that ADH is one of the major promoters of cyst growth (the reason for kidney failure) in PKD. In other words, if you could somehow lower ADH levels, or block its action on the cysts, it might be possible to slow down cyst growth and the inexorable progression of PKD.
Current Treatment Options
Understanding the role of ADH helps in understanding the treatment options available and why they might work, from increased water intake to cutting-edge drugs.
Future Treatment Options
Our understanding of ADH’s role in the worsening of PKD has led to promising research that could offer more concrete treatment options beyond the “Band-Aid” interventions described above. Current research is focused on finding drugs that could block the action of ADH and therefore prevent cysts from growing bigger (since cyst size increase is the crux of kidney failure in PKD patients).
Here are a few examples.
Although both of these agents have shown promise so far (in addition to other contenders like mTOR inhibitors and other drugs inclinical trials), cost is a major concern. Discount coupons can be helpful under certain circumstances to offset the cost of obtaining these medications.
SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Caroli A, Perico N, Perna A, et al. Effect of longacting somatostatin analogue on kidney and cyst growth in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ALADIN): a randomised, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial. Lancet. 2013 Nov 2;382(9903):1485-95. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61407-5Torres V, Chapman A, Devuyst O, et al. Tolvaptan in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:2407-2418, 2012. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1205511Higashihara E, Nutahara K, Tanbo M, et al. Does increased water intake prevent disease progression in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease? Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. 2014 Sept;29(9):1710-9.Nagao S, Kazuhiro N, Makoto K, et al. Increased Water Intake Decreases Progression of Polycystic Kidney Disease in the PCK Rat. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2006 Aug;17(8):2220-7. Epub 2006 Jun 28.
Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Caroli A, Perico N, Perna A, et al. Effect of longacting somatostatin analogue on kidney and cyst growth in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ALADIN): a randomised, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial. Lancet. 2013 Nov 2;382(9903):1485-95. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61407-5Torres V, Chapman A, Devuyst O, et al. Tolvaptan in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:2407-2418, 2012. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1205511Higashihara E, Nutahara K, Tanbo M, et al. Does increased water intake prevent disease progression in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease? Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. 2014 Sept;29(9):1710-9.Nagao S, Kazuhiro N, Makoto K, et al. Increased Water Intake Decreases Progression of Polycystic Kidney Disease in the PCK Rat. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2006 Aug;17(8):2220-7. Epub 2006 Jun 28.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Caroli A, Perico N, Perna A, et al. Effect of longacting somatostatin analogue on kidney and cyst growth in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ALADIN): a randomised, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial. Lancet. 2013 Nov 2;382(9903):1485-95. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61407-5Torres V, Chapman A, Devuyst O, et al. Tolvaptan in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:2407-2418, 2012. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1205511Higashihara E, Nutahara K, Tanbo M, et al. Does increased water intake prevent disease progression in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease? Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. 2014 Sept;29(9):1710-9.Nagao S, Kazuhiro N, Makoto K, et al. Increased Water Intake Decreases Progression of Polycystic Kidney Disease in the PCK Rat. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2006 Aug;17(8):2220-7. Epub 2006 Jun 28.
Caroli A, Perico N, Perna A, et al. Effect of longacting somatostatin analogue on kidney and cyst growth in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ALADIN): a randomised, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial. Lancet. 2013 Nov 2;382(9903):1485-95. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61407-5
Torres V, Chapman A, Devuyst O, et al. Tolvaptan in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:2407-2418, 2012. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1205511
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