Microbes have been suspected as provocateurs of polycystic kidney disease (PKD), but attempts to isolate viable organisms have failed. Bacterial endotoxin is the most often reported microbial product found in PKD fluids. We assessed potential microbial origins of endotoxin in cyst fluids from 13 PKD patients and urines of PKD and control individuals.
Departments of Biomedical and Therapeutic Sciences, Pathology, and Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois 61656, USA. Hjelle@uic.edu
