Question

1. A patient who is 38 years of age is diagnosed with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, a hereditary disease that results in fluid-filled cysts occupying space in the kidneys. The cysts can interfere with the function of the kidney and may burst and cause bleeding inside the kidney. The patient with polycystic kidney disease may or may not have a berry aneurysm of a blood vessel in the brain that could lead to bleeding and death, cysts on the ovaries, and a mitral valve prolapse (in females) that can lead to dysrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms), or diverticula (outpouching of the bowel) that are susceptible to infection and inflammation and may lead to gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient is susceptible to retaining fluid in the abdomen so the abdomen is large to constipation, and to hypertension. There is no cure for the disease. The patient receives supportive care for the various symptoms or complications the patient may have. (Learning Objectives 1 to 3)

When explaining to the patient and family about polycystic kidney disease, the nurse should explain what characteristics about an autosomal dominant genetic disease?

How does variable expression of genetic characteristics play a role in the course of polycystic kidney disease and how can the nurse further predict the level of the disease?

Identify the roles of the nurse in integrating genetics in the nursing care provided for the patient.

Answer 1

Autosomal dominant is one of several ways that a trait or discarder can be passed down (inherited) through families. In an autosomal dominant disease if you inherit the abnormal gene from only one parent. you can get the disease. Often one of the parents may also have the disease. In autosomal dominant discarder the mutated gene is a dominant gene located on one of the nonsense chromosomes (auto somas). Only one mutated gene to be affected by this type of disorder. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common forms of poly cystic kidney disease. It is present at birth in 1 in 400 to 1 in 1000 babies & it is affects approximately 400,000 people in the united states. It is a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in both kidneys. The cysts are filled with fluid 4th decade of life. predictors of more rapid precegression to renal failure include the following earlier