What we're fighting for

The 2old2playHalo Pwnathon 2008 is well underway. The effort is going very well, but we still need a lot more participation from you members. To see what the Pwnathon event is, see the Off Topic and The Halo Series forums. For a little insight on what we're doing this for, I've found some information on PKDcure.org that I thought was worth sharing....

About PKD

Polycystic Kidney Disease affects 1 in 500 people, including newborns, children and adults regardless of sex, age, race or ethnic origin. It comes in two forms:

1. Autosomal dominant (ADPKD), one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases. ADPKD affects between 1 in 500 people. It does not skip a generation. There is usually a family history of ADPKD. Parents with ADPKD have a 50 percent chance of passing the disease on to each of their children.

2. Autosomal recessive (ARPKD), is a rare genetic disorder, occurring in approximately 1 in 20,000 individuals. It affects boys and girls equally and often causes significant mortality in the first month of life.

A normal kidney is the size of a human fist and weighs about a third of a pound. However, with the presence of PKD, cysts develop in both kidneys. When many cysts develop, the kidneys can grow to be the size of a football or larger and weigh as much as 38 pounds each. There may be just a few cysts or many, and the cysts may range in size from a pinhead to the size of a grapefruit.

What are the Symptoms of PKD?
Early in the disease, patients often experience no symptoms. In fact, many people are never diagnosed with ADPKD because they have so few or no symptoms.

Symptoms of PKD:
High blood pressure
Chronic pain or heaviness in the back, sides or abdomen
Blood in the urine
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Kidney stone

PKD Foundation Fundraising
As the federal funding for PKD research declines, the PKD Foundation’s efforts to raise money for research and patient education continue to rise! Through exciting fundraising efforts and your unwavering support, the PKD Foundation continues to meet and surpass fundraising goals, but we need your help to find a treatment and cure for PKD.