Polycystic kidney disease historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: M. Khurram Afzal, MD [2]

King Stephen Bathory of Poland died from polycystic kidney disease in 1586. His death began the journey of the discovery of polycystic kidney disease as a disease process. In 1888, Fe´lix Lejars first used the term polycystic kidney. In the late 18th century, Dr. Matthew Baillie noted that these cysts were vesicular and not hydatid, and named them false hydatids of kidney. In 1994, PKD1 gene mutation on chromosome 16, was first implicated in the pathogenesis of ADPKD patients.

• In 1888, Fe´lix Lejars first used the term polycystic kidney^[1]
• He also stressed on the fact these cysts are bilateral
• In the late 18th century, Dr. Matthew Baillie noted that these cysts were vesicular and not hydatid, and named them false hydatids of kidney^[2]​
• In 1994, PKD1 gene mutation on chromosome 16, was first implicated in the pathogenesis of ADPKD patients^[3]
• Later PKHD1 gene mutation was found in patients with ARPKD^[4]

The following are a few famous cases of Polycystic kidney disease:

• King Stephen Bathory of Poland died from polycystic kidney disease in 1586^[5]
• His death began the journey of the discovery of polycystic kidney disease as a disease process.

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