Evaluation of Intima and Media Layer of Iliac and Renal Artery to Verify a Mechanism of Intracranial Aneurysm Development in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Patients

ADPKD is associated with PKD1 gene on chromosome 16 and PKD2 gene on chromosome 4 and these gene respectively code polycystin 1 and polycystin 2. Currently the hypotheses for increased intracranial aneurysm rate in ADPKD patients is that mutation of polycystin is not only confined to nephron tissues but also in endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells and results in mutation of vascular phenotype. Also recent studies show polycystin complex causes cystic changes through mutation in primary cilia in renal epithelium. Wild type endothelial cells respond to fluid shear stress by regulating levels of intracellular calcium and nitric oxide, however, PKD1 or PKD2 mutation in fetal aortic endothelial cells revealed loss of these responses.

During kidney transplantation, bilateral nephrectomies are routinely performed to ADPKD patients. In this study, blood, urine, iliac artery and renal artery tissues will be collected from ADPKD patients receiving kidney transplantation to analyze the arterial characteristic and gene mutation of ADPKD patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate mechanisms associated with intracranial aneurysm occurence in ADPKD patients by analyzing the genetic mutation and vascular deformities of these patients.