ARPKD

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is one of many pediatric cystic renal diseases.

On imaging, it usually presents on ultrasound with enlarged echogenic kidneys with multiple small cysts. Liver involvement with coarse echotexture, biliary tract cystic changes, and portal hypertension may be evident, depending on the age and stage of hepatic fibrosis.

Epidemiology

ARPKD is one of the commonest inheritable infantile cystic renal diseases but is far less common than the autosomal dominant polycystic disease (ADPKD), which affects adults. The incidence is estimated at ~1:20,000-50,000 . There is no perceived gender or racial predilection.

Clinical presentation

The age of presentation is variable and is divided into perinatal, neonatal, infantile, and juvenile forms (for the sake of simplicity one can think of only two groups: those that present around birth, and those that present later in childhood). There is an inverse relationship with severity of associated congenital hepatic fibrosis. In patients who present early (perinatal/neonatal) renal disease dominates, whereas in older children (infantile/juvenile) liver disease dominates the clinical picture .

Pathology

Results from a mutation in the PKHD1 (polycystic kidney and hepatic disease) gene location on chromosome 6p. This results in bilateral symmetric microcystic disease occurring in the distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts. The number of ducts involved determines the age of presentation.

• perinatal type: most common
  • oligohydramnios and pulmonary hypoplasia  
  • 75% have death within 24 hours of delivery
  • minimal hepatic fibrosis
• neonatal type: minimal hepatic fibrosis
• infantile type: moderate periportal fibrosis
• juvenile type: gross hepatic fibrosis
  • portal hypertension with splenomegaly and portosystemic varices

Associations

• Caroli disease 
• congenital hepatic fibrosis: the degree of which is inversely proportional to the age of presentation
• Multiple biliary hamartomas 

Radiographic features

Involvement is usually bilateral, and often first assessed with ultrasound.

Fluoroscopy

Intravenous pyelography (IVP)

If performed, a streaky appearance may be demonstrated, representing the ectatic collecting ducts.

Ultrasound

Appearances somewhat depend on the age of the patient :

• on antenatal ultrasound, associated oligohydramnios may be identified
• cysts
  • initially too small to resolve but with time may become discernible
  • unlike ADPKD, the cysts rarely exceed 1-2 cm in diameter
• the kidneys appear enlarged and echogenic but usually, retain a reniform shape
• medullary pyramids
  • initially may appear hypoechoic compared to cortex: which can give a peripheral halo during this stage
  • eventually become increasingly hyperechoic
  • corticomedullary differentiation is eventually lost
• high-resolution ultrasound (linear-array transducer, 7.5 MHz or greater) allows visualization of numerous cylindrical cysts in the medulla and cortex, which represent ectatic collecting ducts

Ultrasound is also useful in assessing the liver (see: congenital hepatic fibrosis) and may demonstrate :

• normal or coarsened echotexture
• biliary tract cystic change (Caroli disease)
• portal hypertension and sequelae thereof

MRI

• frequently shows enlarged kidneys with diffusely increased T2 signal
• may also show evidence of oligohydramnios in better detail

Treatment and prognosis

Treatment is largely supportive. Dialysis and transplantation (renal +/- liver) may be offered.

The prognosis is poor in general but also significantly depends on the type. Overall, ~40% (range 30-50%) of affected infants die during the perinatal period owing to pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary insufficiency .

Complications

• pulmonary hypoplasia: with Potter sequence
• systemic hypertension

Differential diagnosis

For enlarged echogenic kidneys on an antenatal ultrasound scan, considerations include:

• autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD): the large cysts may not form in utero, and the kidneys may initially appear as enlarged and echogenic
• Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
• Laurence-Moon-Beidl syndrome
• Meckel-Gruber syndrome
• renal dysplasia associated with trisomy 13

Siehe auch:

• Pätau-Syndrom
• Meckel-Syndrom
• Beckwith-Wiedemann-Syndrom
• autosomal-dominante polyzystische Nierenerkrankung
• Zystenniere
• Laurence-Moon-Beidel syndrome

und weiter:

• genitourinary curriculum
• obstetric curriculum
• angeborene renale Anomalien
• striated nephrogram
• COACH syndrome
• congenital hepatic fibrosis
• paediatric curriculum
• Potter-Sequenz
• Lymphangiektasie der Niere
• kortikale Nephrokalzinose
• enlarged echogenic fetal kidneys
• fetal cystic renal disease
• caroli disease and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease
• autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease with liver involvement