Cardiovascular complications in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Cardiovascular complications in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney diseas e (ADPKD) Cardiovascular complications in ADPKD patients must be subdivided into congenital tissue malformations associated with ADPKD (heart valve pr olapse, intracerebral aneurysms etc.) and acquired manifestations caused by concomitant hypertension. Although involvement of the mitral but also aort ic and tricuspid valve with corresponding clinical appearances is frequent, the mortality due to heart failure or acute heart events is not higher in ADPKD patients with chronic renal failure compared to patients with chronic renal failure caused by other underlying diseases. Intracranial aneurysms are dangerous because of the risk of rupture and hemorrhage but also other forms of stroke show an increased occurrence. Hypertension occurs more freq uently (67%) and earlier (3rd and 4th decennium) compared to the normal pop ulation but antihypertensive drug therapy is almost always effective. In AD PKD patients without valve abnormalities left ventricular hypertrophy is no t more frequent than in comparable patients without ADPKD.