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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Use of Ultra-high Field MRI in Small Rodent Models of Polycystic Kidney Disease for In Vivo Phenotyping and Drug Monitoring
Published on: June 23, 2015
Diverticulitis and polycystic kidney disease
E D Lederman1, G McCoy, D J Conti
1Division of General Surgery, Albany Medical College, New York 12208, USA.
Insights
Patients with adult polycystic kidney disease (PKD) have a significantly higher risk of developing diverticulitis. This condition is often severe, requiring surgery in half of affected PKD patients.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Gastroenterology
- Transplantation
Background:
- Adult polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is associated with an increased incidence of complicated diverticulitis post-renal transplantation.
- The extrarenal manifestations of PKD require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the risk and severity of diverticulitis in patients with advanced polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 184 end-stage renal failure patients (59 PKD, 125 non-PKD controls) from January 1985 to May 1997.
- Comparison of diverticulitis incidence and severity between PKD and non-PKD cohorts.
Main Results:
- 20% of PKD patients had a history of active diverticulitis, compared to 3% in the non-PKD control group (P = 0.0003).
- Diverticulitis in PKD patients was frequently severe, with 50% requiring surgical intervention.
Conclusions:
- Patients with end-stage renal disease due to PKD have a significantly higher rate of diverticulitis.
- Diverticular disease may represent an extrarenal manifestation of polycystic kidney disease.
Abstract:
Patients with adult polycystic kidney disease (PKD) have previously been shown to have an increased incidence of complicated diverticulitis after renal transplantation. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of diverticulitis in the PKD population. We retrospectively reviewed patients with advanced PKD, defined as end-stage renal failure requiring dialysis. Patients were obtained from a single nephrology group practice between January 1985 and January 1997, or from all patients being evaluated or actively considered for renal transplantation at our institution as of May 1997. The incidence and severity of diverticulitis in these patients was compared with that observed in a similar cohort of patients with end-stage renal disease due to other etiologies. The study population consisted of 184 renal failure patients, 59 with PKD and 125 with other causes of end-stage renal disease. Twelve (20%) patients with PKD had a history of active diverticulitis, whereas only 4 (3%) of the non-PKD controls had diverticulitis (P = 0.0003, Fisher's exact test). Six of the 12 PKD patients required surgical intervention. Patients with renal failure due to PKD experience a significantly higher rate of diverticulitis than do other patients with end-stage renal disease. Furthermore, diverticulitis is frequently severe in PKD patients, with 50 per cent requiring surgical intervention. These data suggest that diverticular disease may be an extrarenal manifestation of polycystic kidney disease.
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