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Genetic testing and counselling for ADPKD

This fact sheet is for people with ADPKD and their family and friends. It explains the gene alterations that can cause ADPKD, how they’re inherited, and how genetic testing works. If you’re wondering whether you’re eligible and whether to go ahead with testing, you’ll find useful information here.

Which gene alterations cause ADPKD?

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is inherited. This means it can be passed on from a parent with ADPKD to their child through their genes. Genes are the instructions the cells in our bodies need to grow, divide, and do their jobs.

There are many different alterations (mutations) that can occur in genes linked to ADPKD. Usually, ADPKD is caused by an alteration in either the PKD1 or PKD2 gene. There are also rarer gene alterations that can cause ADPKD (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Genetic alterations in ADPKD

About genetic testing

What is genetic testing?

A genetic test can look for gene alterations that cause particular health conditions. It is usually done on a blood or saliva sample.

Genes are made of DNA — a long chain of molecules linked together to form a code. This code acts like a recipe, telling the cell how to make a particular protein.

In a genetics laboratory, a scientist will use a special machine called a sequencer to read the DNA code of your genes. The code can then be studied to look for alterations linked to kidney diseases that cause cysts, including ADPKD. These gene alterations are sometimes referred to as ‘pathogenic’ or ‘likely pathogenic’ mutations, because they cause disease.

If a gene alteration is found that is responsible for your ADPKD, samples of DNA from family members can be checked for the same alteration. Relatives who have the same gene alteration will develop ADPKD too, even if they don’t have symptoms yet.

Who can have genetic tests for ADPKD?

Tests for alterations in genes that can cause ADPKD are typically only available to people who either have or are suspected to have this condition. ADPKD is not a common disease and people without symptoms or a family history are unlikely to have it or benefit from testing.

Often, adults with ADPKD can be diagnosed based on an ultrasound of their abdomen (tummy) to look for cysts in their kidneys and liver.

Examples of when a genetic test for ADPKD might be used are:

  • if a person has kidney cysts and the cause is not clear
  • if a child develops signs of ADPKD
  • to help plan the care of someone with ADPKD
  • to help people with ADPKD (or their family members) to plan a family
  • to check whether a family member who wants to donate a kidney has ADPKD when a scan is unclear
  • to check family members for ADPKD if the gene alteration causing ADPKD in a family is known (this is called predictive genetic testing).

Your kidney specialist will be able to explain whether you’re eligible for a genetic test and arrange this test for you. You may also be asked to have genetic counselling to help you understand the pros and cons of testing before going ahead.

How long does it take to get the results?

If you’re having a genetic test for ADPKD and no one in your family has been tested before, the results should be available within 18 weeks (about 4 months).

However, results may take longer to come through as the NHS recovers from the pandemic. If an ADPKD gene alteration has already been found in a relative, your test result might come through within weeks. This is because the laboratory staff already know which gene alteration they’re looking for.

What could the results of my genetic test be?

If you have ADPKD and have genetic testing, there is over a 9 in 10 chance that the laboratory will find the gene alteration causing your condition.

The possible results of the test are:

  1. an alteration is found in PKD1, PKD2 or another gene that explains why you have ADPKD. These alterations are called ‘pathogenic’ or ‘likely pathogenic’
  2. no gene alteration is found to explain your ADPKD
  3. a change is found in the DNA code of a gene associated with ADPKD, but genetic specialists are not sure whether this is the cause of your ADPKD. This is called a ‘variant of unknown significance’ or VUS.

In England, genetic testing for ADPKD is currently carried out using whole genome sequencing. This means your entire genetic code is read but only the genes associated with kidney cysts are fully analysed. 

You may be asked whether your whole genome sequence can be stored in the National Genomic Research Library. This is so your data can be used anonymously (without your name) in studies aiming to improve the diagnose and treatment of diseases in the future. Your genetic counsellor can explain what this means for you.

Can I have a genetic test done privately?

If you’re not eligible for genetic testing on the NHS, ask your doctor to explain why. It might be that you’re not at risk of having ADPKD, or the results would not alter your care plan.

Some companies offer private genetic testing, which you pay for yourself or via health insurance. Before using a private company, ask about the expertise of the laboratory as well as the doctor interpreting the results. This is because genetic tests are highly technical, and the results can be hard to understand.

Can genetic tests tell how fast my ADPKD will progress?

The gene alteration you have might give some clues as to how your ADPKD may progress, but specialists won’t be able to predict exactly when your ADPKD will worsen. This is because factors other than genes affect ADPKD too.

Relatives with the same gene alteration can get different symptoms or experience problems at different ages.

On average, compared with people with PKD1 gene alterations, those with PKD2 gene alterations tend to have ADPKD that is:

  • diagnosed later in life
  • less severe
  • progresses less quickly.

Alterations in other genes linked to ADPKD are uncommon, and we’re still learning about them. Some seem to cause ADPKD that is less severe and has symptoms starting later in life than ADPKD caused by PKD1 or PKD2.

Choosing whether to have genetic testing

What are the pros and cons of genetic testing?

It can be difficult to decide whether to have genetic testing. It may help to talk to a genetic counsellor or someone with experience of testing for ADPKD, as well as friends and family.

Below are some of the pros and cons. Your doctor can refer you to a genetic counsellor to chat these through.

Pros:

  • Getting an answer on whether you have ADPKD can be a relief, whatever the result
  • If an ADPKD gene alteration is found, this might help you to make decisions about your health and to get specialist care
  • If an ADPKD gene alteration is found, you can understand the risk of passing the condition on to any children you have in the future. You can also look into having special IVF to avoid this risk if you choose
  • Identifying the gene responsible for ADPKD in your family means that other family members can be tested

Cons:

  • Waiting for test results can be a difficult and emotional time
  • There is a chance the test might not give a clear answer, for example if an alteration is found that hasn’t been seen before
  • If you don’t have any symptoms of ADPKD and a test shows you have inherited an ADPKD gene alteration, this may lead to a range of emotions (such as shock, anxiety about the future, or anger)
  • Some family members might not want to have genetic testing and feel uncomfortable about you having the test

What happens in a genetic counselling session?

Genetic counselling is not the same as psychological counselling. Sessions may be run by a genetic counsellor, a clinical geneticist or a kidney specialist. They’ll give you information to help you decide whether or not you want to have a genetic test. You’ll talk through the pros and cons, your views, and what’s most important to you.

After genetic counselling, you’ll choose whether you want to go ahead with the test. You don’t have to make an immediate decision.

Will having a genetic test affect my insurance premiums?

Having genetic testing can sometimes affect insurance related to your health (such as life insurance, health insurance, or critical illness cover). This depends on the circumstances of the test:

  • In the UK, you don’t need to tell your insurer about any genetic test you (or your family) have to predict whether you have ADPKD if you have no symptoms. Your insurer must not ask for or use the results of these tests. See the Association of British Insurers guide to genetic testing and insurance.
  • If asked, you should tell your insurance company about any conditions you have been diagnosed with. So, if you have symptoms of ADPKD and have a scan or genetic test confirming you have the condition, this is classed as a diagnosis. If you don’t tell your insurance company about your diagnosis when asked, this could invalidate your insurance.

The Genetic Alliance has further information on insurance for people with a family history of an inherited disease and those considering having a genetic test.

More details on the genetics of ADPKD

How did I get a gene alteration?

Most people with a PKD1 or PKD2 gene alteration inherited it from a parent with ADPKD. Less commonly, the gene alteration can happen by chance early in life (when a person is an embryo).

How are ADPKD genes inherited?

If you have a PKD1 or PKD2 gene alteration, there is a 1 in 2 chance (50% chance) of passing it on to each child you have.

We show this in the diagram below (Figure 2). Each person has two copies of a PKD gene. Here we show one parent with two normal genes (green), and one parent with one normal (green) and one altered gene (purple). The second parent has ADPKD.

The child will inherit one gene from each parent. So, in the scenario on the left, the child inherits the altered gene (purple) from the affected parent, and a normal gene from the other parent. This child will have ADPKD.

In the scenario on the right, the child inherits a normal gene (green) from each parent and will not have ADPKD.

Figure 2: ADPKD inheritance

What do the PKD1 and PKD2 genes do?

The PKD1 and PKD2 genes are codes for making two proteins called polycystin 1 and polycystin 2. These proteins are found on the surface of cells lining the kidney tubules that are involved in making urine.

People with a PKD1 or PKD2 gene alteration have different versions of polycystin 1 or polycystin 2. The changes to the proteins make it more likely that cysts will grow in the kidney.

The precise function of polycystin 1 and polycystin 2 is currently unclear. Researchers are looking into how the cells lining kidney cysts differ from healthy kidney cells to help in the design of potential new treatments.

Information for parents and people planning a family

Should my children get tested for ADPKD?

Most children with ADPKD don’t have symptoms that cause problems. The only way to know whether a child has ADPKD is using an ultrasound scan of the kidneys or genetic test.

Children at risk of having ADPKD can have genetic testing at any age. If you’re considering getting your children tested, ask to be referred to a genetic counsellor. They can explain the pros and cons.

If you decide against genetic testing for your child for the time being, you can ask for an ultrasound scan instead if you like. Your doctor will also recommend that your child has blood pressure check-ups from age 5 years onwards. This is because ADPKD can cause high blood pressure in children as well as adults, and it’s important this is treated.

Can I have my baby tested for ADPKD before birth?

If you or your partner have ADPKD, there is a 1 in 2 (50%) chance your child will inherit ADPKD. This risk applies to each child you have.

Very occasionally, a routine ultrasound scan during pregnancy will show a baby has cysts in their kidneys due to ADPKD.

If you or your partner have a gene alteration causing ADPKD, you can have your baby tested before birth if you want to. This typically involves taking small samples of amniotic fluid or placenta (called a chorionic villus sample or CVS), together with ultrasound scans. Amniotic fluid is the liquid that surrounds the baby in the womb, while the placenta provides oxygen and nutrients to the baby.

It’s best to discuss options before becoming pregnant: ask your doctor or kidney specialist to refer you to a genetics centre.

Can I have special IVF to prevent my baby inheriting ADPKD?

If you have ADPKD, a special type of in vitro fertilization (IVF) called pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) means you can have a child without ADPKD. This procedure is not available to everyone, and not all couples choose to have it.

PGT involves the steps shown in the next diagram (Figure 3). If you get pregnant from PGT, your child won’t have ADPKD. But like any IVF, it doesn’t always lead to pregnancy.

If you want to find out more about PGT for yourself and your partner, ask your GP, genetics clinic or kidney specialist to refer you for a PGT consultation.

PGT is only offered in a few centres. Although ADPKD is one of the conditions approved for PGT, not everyone is eligible to have it on the NHS. Your eligibility depends on your circumstances, the area of the UK you live in, your health, and whether you have other children. For more information see the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority website and Genetic Alliance UK website.

Figure 3: Steps of pre-implantation genetic testing

Information and support from others

Authors and contributors

Written by Hannah Bridges, PhD, HB Health Comms Ltd, UK. Reviewed by Professor Richard Sandford, Academic Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, UK.

With thanks to all those affected by ADPKD who contributed to this publication.

Ref No: ADPKD.GA.V2.0
Last updated: September 2022
Next scheduled review: September 2024

Disclaimer:  This information is primarily for people in the UK. We have made every effort to ensure that the information we provide is correct and up to date. However, it is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical examination. We do not promote or recommend any treatment. We do not accept liability for any errors or omissions. Medical information, the law and government regulations change rapidly, so always consult your GP, pharmacist or other medical professional if you have any concerns or before starting any new treatment.

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The PKD Charity Helpline offers confidential support and information to anyone affected by PKD, including family, friends, carers, newly diagnosed or those who have lived with the condition for many years.