Which statement is true regarding autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease inheritance?

Which statement is true regarding autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease inheritance?

• A. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.
• B. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.
• C. It is caused by a bacterial infection.
• D. It is a sporadic condition with no inheritance.

Answer: (A)

Autosomal dominant inheritance means that a single mutated copy of the disease gene is enough to cause polycystic kidneys. In ADPKD, mutations in PKD1 or PKD2 lead to cyst formation, and each child of an affected parent has about a 50% chance of inheriting the condition, with males and females affected equally. This pattern explains why the disease often runs in families and can appear in multiple generations. It’s not due to a bacterial infection, and while new mutations can occur, the typical inheritance seen is dominant. An autosomal recessive pattern would require two mutated copies, which isn’t how ADPKD is transmitted, and a purely sporadic, non-inherited form is not the usual scenario.

Autosomal dominant inheritance means that a single mutated copy of the disease gene is enough to cause polycystic kidneys. In ADPKD, mutations in PKD1 or PKD2 lead to cyst formation, and each child of an affected parent has about a 50% chance of inheriting the condition, with males and females affected equally. This pattern explains why the disease often runs in families and can appear in multiple generations. It’s not due to a bacterial infection, and while new mutations can occur, the typical inheritance seen is dominant. An autosomal recessive pattern would require two mutated copies, which isn’t how ADPKD is transmitted, and a purely sporadic, non-inherited form is not the usual scenario.