Cystic Kidney Diseases in the Elderly
摘要
Cysts are epithelial-lined, hollow cavities that are usually filled with fluid but can also contain blood, pus, air, or other solid material. Cystic kidney disease is an umbrella term that includes a multitude of individual disease entities and will be discussed in detail in this chapter. Clinical manifestations of cystic kidney diseases vary in severity, ranging from mild compressive symptoms to life-threatening bleeding due to cyst rupture. The prognosis of cystic kidney diseases runs the spectrum of preserved kidney function or mild kidney function decline to kidney failure. The management of various cystic kidney diseases ranges from observation to disease-modifying treatments or renal replacement therapy. This chapter discusses the unique aspects of diagnosis and treatment of cystic kidney diseases in older patients.