LifestyleMidday Maryland

Actions

Rare Disease Day

Rare Disease Day
Posted
and last updated

For those who have a family history of a rare disease, inheriting such a condition might not be so rare. Rare Disease Day on February 28 helps raise awareness for these types of diseases, including a genetic kidney condition called Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, or ADPKD.

ADPKD causes cysts to grow on the kidney, which can cause an increase in size and a decrease in function. While a healthy kidney is about the size of a fist, people with ADPKD may have kidneys the size of footballs, or larger. ADPKD is usually diagnosed by testing and imaging.

March marks National Kidney Month, which aims to bring awareness to the various types of kidney disease, including rare ones such as ADPKD.

Learn more here.