- Alport syndrome
DiseaseDisorder infobox
Name = Alport syndrome
ICD10 = ICD10|Q|87|8|q|80
ICD9 = ICD9|759.89
ICDO =
Caption =
OMIM = 301050
OMIM_mult = OMIM2|104200 OMIM2|203780 OMIM2|300195
MedlinePlus = 000504
eMedicineSubj = med
eMedicineTopic = 110
DiseasesDB = 454
MeshID = D009394Alport syndrome is a
genetic disorder characterized byglomerulonephritis , endstage kidney disease, and hearing loss. Alport syndrome can also affect the eyes. The presence ofblood in theurine (hematuria ) is almost always found in this condition.It was first identified in a British family by Dr.
Cecil A. Alport in 1927.Causes
Alport syndrome is caused by
mutation s in "COL4A3 ", "COL4A4 ", and "COL4A5 ",collagen biosynthesis genes. Mutations in any of these genes prevent the proper production or assembly of thetype IV collagen network, which is an important structural component of basement membranes in thekidney , innerear , andeye . Basement membranes are thin, sheet-like structures that separate and support cells in many tissues. When mutations prevent the formation of type IV collagen fibers, the basement membranes of the kidneys are not able to filter waste products from the blood and create urine normally, allowing blood andprotein into the urine. The abnormalities of type IV collagen in kidney basement membranes cause gradual scarring of the kidneys, eventually leading to kidney failure in many people with the disease.Inheritance patterns
Alport syndrome can have different inheritance patterns that are dependent on the genetic mutation.
*In most people with Alport syndrome, the condition is inherited in an
X-linked pattern, due to mutations in the "COL4A5" gene. A condition is considered X-linked if the gene involved in the disorder is located on theX chromosome . In males, who have only one X chromosome, one altered copy of the "COL4A5" gene is sufficient to cause severe Alport syndrome, explaining why most affected males eventually develop kidney failure. In females, who have two X chromosomes, a mutation in one copy of the "COL4A5" gene usually results in blood in the urine, but most affected females do not develop kidney failure. A striking characteristic of X-linked inheritance is that fathers cannot pass X-linked diseases to their sons.*Alport syndrome can be inherited in an
autosomal recessive pattern if both copies of the "COL4A3" or "COL4A4" gene, located on chromosome 2, have been mutated. Most often, the parents of a child with an autosomal recessive disorder are not affected but are carriers of one copy of the altered gene.Criteria for the clinical diagnosis
Gregory et al, 1996, gave the following 10 criteria for the diagnosis of Alport syndrome, 4 of the 10 criteria must be met:
* Family history ofnephritis of unexplained haematuria in a first degree relative of theindex case or in a male relative linked through any numbers of females.
* Persistent haematuria without evidence of another possibly inherited nephropathy such asthin GBM disease ,polycystic kidney disease orIgA nephropathy .
* Bilateralsensorineural hearing loss in the 2000 to 8000 Hz range. The hearing loss develops gradually, is not present in early infancy and commonly presents before the age of 30 years.
* Amutation inCOL4An (where n = 3, 4 or 5).
* Immunohistochemical evidence of complete or partial lack of the Alportepitope in glomerular, or epidermal basement membranes, or both.
* WidespreadGBM ultrastructural abnormalities, in particular thickening, thinning and splitting.
* Ocular lesions includinganterior lenticonus ,posterior subcapsular cataract ,posterior polymorphous dystrophy and retinal flecks.
* Gradual progression toESRD in the index case of at least two family members.
*Macrothrombocytopenia or granulocytic inclusions.
* Diffuseleiomyomatosis ofesophagus orfemale genitalia , or both.References
* cite journal |author=Kashtan CE, Michael AF |title=Alport syndrome |journal=Kidney Int. |volume=50 |issue=5 |pages=1445–63 |year=1996 |pmid=8914010|doi=10.1038/ki.1996.459
* [http://www.cc.utah.edu/~cla6202/Chap.htm Diseases of the Kidney: Alport Syndrome]
*
*"This article incorporates public domain text from [http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov The U.S. National Library of Medicine] "
External links
[http://www.moldiag.de/en/dis/alport.htm Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Nephrology and Metabolic Disorders, Dr Mato Nagel]
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