Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a medical condition wherein numerous fluid-filled cysts are found to have grown in either or both kidneys. These cysts cause enlargement and, if left untreated, can grow to an abnormal size that can destroy standard kidney structure and affect kidney function, which could lead to eventual kidney failure and death.
Warning Symptoms of Kidney Disease
The cysts are mostly benign or non-carcinogenic; most contain bodily fluids or water. However, because of continual fluid accumulation, their sizes could grow more significantly than those of the kidneys.
Inside the kidney
A longitudinal section through the kidney and its collecting system.
A healthy kidney weighs less than a pound, but in advanced PKD, kidneys enlarged by many cysts can become many times heavier than normal. Polycystic kidney disease, which means “many cysts,” is a progressive disease that can severely affect kidney function and surrounding organs.
Early Diagnosis is Crucial
Rule #1 of functional medicine is early detection and awareness. Identifying the disease at the earliest stage is essential, as our kidneys are responsible for many vital bodily functions. They are waste filters known as the “sweepers,” which are responsible for maintaining cleanliness within our bodies. The filtration process allows for the proper nutrients to be absorbed and the rest of the toxic substances to be flushed out of our systems.
Warning Signs and Symptoms of PKD
The most common signs of kidney problems are backaches or side pains, frequent urination, and blood in the urine. These symptoms can occur in PKD and should prompt you to see a doctor. The size of the abdomen may also noticeably increase over time.
Other features of inherited Polycystic Kidney Disease, which in its common form usually appears in adulthood, include high blood pressure and headaches, as well as complications such as kidney stones and urinary tract infections. Imaging helps doctors tell PKD cysts apart from other kidney lesions, renal cancer and other conditions, and PKD is distinct from chronic autoimmune glomerulonephritis. Although these cystic growths are usually benign, early diagnosis matters because blood pressure control and, for some patients, medication can slow the loss of kidney function, while some patients eventually need dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Treatment for Polycystic Kidney Disease
Stem cell therapy is rapidly gaining acceptance in modern science. Regeneration Center was one of the first providers of functional medicine for kidney diseases, using a non-surgical alternative to treat the symptoms of polycystic kidney disease. Our multi-stage treatment protocol seeks to reverse kidney damage and restore function with a faster recovery rate and much less risk than kidney transplants. Immune Enriched UC-MSC+ Stem cells help restore kidney function and repair damage, and have been used effectively to treat numerous diseases and disorders, such as:
Inside the kidney
A longitudinal section through the kidney and its collecting system.
- Diabetes Type 2, Diabetic Neuropathy, and Acute Pancreatitis
- Neurological Conditions such as ALS, Ataxia, Alzheimer’s, Cerebral Palsy, Brain Injuries, Strokes, Parkinson’s, and Motor Neuron Disease
- Orthopedic Knee Injuries, Hip Injuries, and Sports related injuries
- cardiac failure and heart disease
- Lung Diseases such as COPD or IPF
- Liver Disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Blood disorders such as Thalassemia
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
These adult stem cells are programmed with vital nutrients that aid in healing damaged tissues by creating an almost-new environment that is healthier for tissues and organs to thrive after disease and infections [1]. Clinical trials and medical journals have shown that stem cell transplants are the most effective known alternative treatment solution that does not require surgery. This non-surgical approach allows surrounding healthy tissue to be preserved more effectively.
With stem cell therapy being introduced into the treatment of kidney failure and renal diseases, the treatment aims to reduce and eliminate the need for dialysis significantly.[2]
Dialysis filters waste and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do so; it does not heal kidney tissue, and it is life-sustaining for people with kidney failure. Stem cell therapy may not be able to replace dialysis, and dialysis should never be stopped or delayed without the advice of a kidney specialist.
Previous Kidney Regeneration Patients
Treat PKD with Stem Cell Transplants in 2026
Due to the varying degrees of kidney damage and the stages of PKD disease, our medical team will need to qualify the potential patients before a detailed treatment protocol can be established. Our initial treatment review can be done online and takes seven business days. Suitable candidates for the PKD treatment will require approximately 10-14 days in Bangkok. Upon acceptance into the program, a detailed plan will be provided that includes the specifics, such as the exact total number of nights required, as well as the total medical-related costs (excluding accommodations or flights).
Cell sources and terminology
A guide to the source labels used in the laboratory illustration.
- Adipose tissue
ADSC
- Bone marrow
BM-MSC
- Peripheral blood
PB-MSC
- Placental tissue
P-MSC
- Umbilical cord
UC-MSC
- UC-MSC+
The Regeneration Center’s terminology used in this article.
Please prepare your recent medical records and contact us today for DNA testing for PKD or to begin the qualification process for our UC-MSC+ cell therapy to treat Polycystic Kidney Disease. Learn more about a kidney-friendly diet after treatment.
Published Clinical Citations
[1] ^ Thatava, Tayaramma, Adam S Armstrong, Josep Genebriera De Lamo, Ramakrishna Edukulla, Yulia Krotova Khan, Toshie Sakuma, Seiga Ohmine, et al. Successful disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cell generation from patients with kidney transplantation. Stem cell research & therapy, no. 6 (December 6). doi:10.1186/scrt89. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22142803
[2] ^ Ward, Heather H, Elsa Romero, Angela Welford, Gavin Pickett, Robert Bacallao, Vincent H Gattone, Scott A Ness, Angela Wandinger-Ness, and Tamara Roitbak. Adult human CD133/1(+) kidney cells isolated from the papilla integrate into developing kidney tubules. Biochimica et biophysica acta, no. 10 (January 19). doi:10.1016/j.bbadis.2011.01.010. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21255643