Long-term functional results of aspiration and sclerotherapy with ethanol in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: a non-randomized pilot clinical study.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term effect of aspiration and sclerotherapy treatment on the pain control, blood pressure regulation, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic disease (ADPKD).

Methods: Twenty-five ADPKD patients with a total of 32 dominant cysts were treated with ultrasound guidance percutaneous aspiration and 96% ethanol injection, between 2002 and 2014. Twenty-one dominant cysts of 16 patients who had a minimum of 10-year follow-up were included in this study. The level of pain [visual analog score (VAS)], narcotic usage, blood pressure and serum creatinine level, QoL questionnaire, and radiological dominant cyst size was evaluated before and after procedure, retrospectively.

Results: The mean dominant cyst size was even smaller after follow-up of 10 years. Mean dominant cyst size was 7.2 ± 2.3 cm before the procedure and 0.9 ± 0.9 and 3.3 ± 1.2 cm after the one- and 10-year follow-ups, respectively (p < 0.05). VAS and QoL scores were improved after 10 years of follow-up. There was no relation between cyst size and VAS score as well as QoL questionnaire score. End-stage renal disease occurred in 50%, and there was no significant improvement in blood pressure of these patients.

Conclusions: Aspiration and sclerotherapy with ethanol is a minimal-invasive, safe, and inexpensive outpatient treatment method with acceptable short- and long-term results in ADPKD patients. Aspiration and sclerotherapy with ethanol can be an option for patients with ADPKD.