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Alport's Syndrome
(NK001)

Introduction


Nephritis is a general term for inflammation of the kidneys. There are several hereditary forms of nephritis. Alport's syndrome (AS) is one of these but is unique because of the additional symptom of hearing loss in the presence of kidney failure. The disorder causes chronic glomerulonephritis with destruction of the glomeruli. The eventual result is end stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis (or transplantation) develops between adolescence and age 40.

AS affects the basement membranes which are the supporting layers of epithelial and endothelial tissues that make up much of the body's surfaces. The cause is a mutation in a gene for collagen. The disorder is uncommon, affecting about 2 out of 10,000 people.

Nephritis is a general term for inflammation of the kidneys. There are several hereditary forms of nephritis. Alport's syndrome (AS) is one of these but is unique because of the additional symptom of hearing loss in the presence of kidney failure. The disorder causes chronic glomerulonephritis with destruction of the glomeruli. The eventual result is end stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis (or transplantation) develops between adolescence and age 40.

The cause of AS is a mutation in a gene for collagen. The disorder is uncommon, affecting about 2 out of 10,000 people. Treatment requires medication, and often, kidney transplant.

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What Your Doctor Reads:


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