PATIENTS UNITE TO RAISE AWARENES OF
THE MOST COMMON LIFE- THREATENING GENETIC DISEASE YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF

PKD patients focus efforts for National Kidney Month (March 2008)

(Kansas City, MO) Thursday, March 13, 2008 — 12.5 million people around the world have three letters in common: PKD. You may not even know what PKD is. These people around the globe hope you’ll find out during National Kidney Month, March 2008.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is one of the most common, life-threatening genetic diseases. PKD is more common than Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and sickle cell anemia combined. For patients suffering from PKD, cysts grow throughout the kidneys and eventually the kidneys fail. Dialysis or transplantation are the only treatment options for kidney failure. There is no cure for PKD.

March is National Kidney Month and March 13th is World Kidney Day. PKD patients and families across the country are sharing their stories. They hope to inspire others, to help fund research and to find a cure for this devastating disease.

These patients and families are available to help with your coverage of National Kidney month. To set up interviews, contact PKD Foundation Media Manager, Jennifer Robinson, (800) PKD-CURE or jenniferr@pkdcure.org.

The PKD Foundation leads the fight against PKD through research funding and patient education and support. For more information, visit www.pkdcure.org.