Patient's question:
Patient: Female, 28 years old, with two pregnancies. Both times, at around six months, ultrasound indicated insufficient amniotic fluid, suspecting polycystic kidney disease. The first pregnancy was terminated, and the second was delivered via cesarean section at 33 weeks. Autopsy revealed polycystic kidney disease. Neither spouse has a history of polycystic kidney disease.Doctor's answer:
For fetuses in the later months, some may show polycystic changes in their kidneys through ultrasound and other examinations. In such cases, a careful analysis and a case-by-case approach are necessary. There are generally two common situations:1. It is possible to determine whether the fetus has autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD, adult type) or autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD, infant type) through family history inquiries and multiple tests. However, regardless of the type, it is important to carefully decide whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy. This is because a child born with polycystic kidney disease can have a significant impact on the family and society, which does not align with the principles of eugenics.
2. If the fetus has polycystic kidney dysplasia, the first step is to determine whether it is unilateral or bilateral. If it is bilateral, the prognosis is very poor, and it is best to terminate the pregnancy. If it is unilateral, the pregnancy can be continued.