Strategies to Improve Management of ADPKD: Navigating Pitfalls and Overcoming Challenges

Although the most common inherited renal disorder, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Nephrologists report that ADPKD is associated with the highest unmet need among renal diseases. Unmet needs for the optimal care of patients with ADPKD include improved management of renal and extrarenal manifestations and recognition of genetic factors. With the advent of disease-modifying therapy for ADPKD, it is important to identify patients most likely to benefit from treatment. Identification of patients at risk for rapid progression of renal decline is crucial for individualizing treatment. Nevertheless, health care providers may not be aware of practical strategies to assess prognosis in patients with ADPKD. Translating evidence from ADPKD research into practice is an important strategy for clinicians striving to improve patient care. The identification of clinical implications and generalization of data from the ADPKD literature can be challenging for busy nephrology health care providers. This activity is designed to provide health care providers with enhanced knowledge and competence in state-of-the-art management of ADPKD including appreciation of strategies for interventions to slow the loss of kidney function.