Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a genetic disease where the kidneys are damaged by the formation of cysts within the kidneys. These cysts interfere with the function of the kidneys and therefore the disease can be fatal in severely affected cats. PKD is an inherited disease usually occurring in Persian and Persian related cats such as Himalayan and Exotics. Though random cats can be diagnosed with PKD, primarily the extended Persian family of cats has been found to carry the inherited form of PKD at this time.
Though the gene for PKD is a dominant genetic disorder, not all carrier cats will express the gene while other carriers are badly affected with strong expression of the defect. This means that carriers (+/- on test results) can show a range of severity of the condition. This can be accounted for by gene expression or the turning on of a gene. In some cases, DNA has some variable sequences outside of the gene that will aid in "turning on or turning off" the gene itself and in those that are clinically unaffected, this stretch of DNA acts to suppress the expression of the PKD gene even though it is present. Differing DNA sequence can turn the PKD on so to speak and the cat will develop a severe form of the disease. It is very rare to find a (+/+) or homozygous carrier animal as most of these animals die in utero prior to birth. Normal animals test (-/-). Carrier animals are (+/-) and will pass the affected gene 50% of the time meaning that an average of 50% of the kittens produced will be affected.
Review the schematic table below to see how PKD is inherited.
Normal = N or -, Positive= P or +
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