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Autosomal Dominant Interstitial Kidney Disease
NORD is very grateful to Anthony J. Bleyer, MD, Nephrology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, for assistance in the preparation of this report.
Synonyms of Autosomal Dominant Interstitial Kidney Disease
- familial juvenile hyperuricemic nephropathy
- medullary cystic kidney disease
Disorder Subdivisions
- autosomal dominant interstitial kidney disease due to renin mutations
- autosomal dominant interstitial kidney disease of unknown genetic cause
- uromodulin associated kidney disease
General Discussion
Autosomal dominant interstitial kidney disease describes a group of diseases affecting solely the proper function of the kidney and having the following characteristics: They are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner; kidney disease develops, and dialysis or kidney transplant is required some time between the 4th and 7th decade of life; and several types of the disease are associated with elevated uric acid concentrations in blood and gout, which usually starts in the teenage years. Not all family members are affected by gout, but many are.
There has been a lot of confusion with regards to different names given to these conditions. This has created confusion for patients and doctors alike.
The term medullary cystic kidney disease is sometimes used to describe this condition. However, many, if not most, individuals with this disease do not have medullary cysts, so this name is being used less frequently. Some doctors still use this term.
The term familial juvenile hyperuricemic nephropathy is also used. "Familial" refers to the fact that the disease is inherited. "Juvenile" refers to the fact that it is first noticed frequently in childhood. "Hyperuricemic" refers to the fact that many patients have high blood uric acid levels (this causes gout). "Nephropathy" refers to the fact that this is a kidney disease.
Autosomal dominant interstitial kidney disease currently includes the following disorders. It is likely that additional forms of this disease will be indentified.
Uromodulin associated kidney disease is the most common form of this condition. It is caused by a mutation in a gene producing a protein called uromodulin. This protein is only made in the kidney. The mutation causes affected individuals to develop gout, frequently in their teenage years, and progressive kidney disease.
Autosomal dominant interstitial kidney disease due to renin mutations is caused by mutations in the gene producing a protein called renin. Affected individuals usually develop anemia in childhood. Often, their blood potassium levels are mildly elevated, and their blood uric acid levels are also elevated. These individuals also suffer from gout frequently.
Autosomal dominant interstitial kidney disease of unknown genetic cause is the term used to describe families with this disease in whom the cause is not known. This condition is sometimes called medullary cystic kidney disease type 1. These individuals usually have chronic kidney disease but do not have gout. Researchers are now trying to find the cause of this disease.
Symptoms
Individuals affected with uromodulin associated kidney disease almost always have high blood uric acid levels and often develop gout in their teenage years. Gout is a form of arthritis (joint inflammation) that commonly affects the big toe, knee, elbow, or other joints. Gout is usually a disease of middle-aged men. Therefore, gout may be misdiagnosed in teenagers with this condition. When gout is diagnosed, doctors frequently are unsure why the gout is present.
Slow loss of kidney function develops, and patients may first be diagnosed with this disease when they are found to have an elevated blood creatinine level (measure of kidney function) on a routine blood test at their doctor's office. For many individuals, there may be no other symptoms. The kidney disease progresses slowly, and patients eventually develop symptoms of kidney failure (nausea, fluid retention) and require dialysis or kidney transplant, usually in their 4th through 7th decade of life.
Individuals with autosomal dominant interstitial kidney disease due to renin mutations frequently develop anemia, which has been detected as early as the first year of life. Anemia may improve but return when kidney failure worsens (usually in the 30's or 40's). Often, the cause of the anemia is not known when diagnosed. Some, but not all, affected individuals produce more than normal amounts of urine, which can result in bed-wetting in childhood. Other symptoms that might be present include small kidneys, mildly low or low normal blood pressure, mildly high blood potassium levels, and gout that may begin in the late teenage years.
Slow loss of kidney function is the only symptom of autosomal dominant interstitial kidney disease of unknown genetic cause and patients are diagnosed with this disease when they are found to have an elevated serum creatinine level (measure of kidney function) on a routine blood test at their doctor's office. The kidney disease progresses slowly, and patients eventually develop symptoms of kidney failure (nausea, fluid retention) and require dialysis or kidney transplant, usually in their 4th through 7th decade of life.
Causes
All types of autosomal dominant interstial kidney disease follow autosomal dominant inheritance. Dominant genetic disorders occur when only a single copy of an abnormal gene is necessary to cause a particular disease. The abnormal gene can be inherited from either parent or can be the result of a new mutation (gene change) in the affected individual. The risk of passing the abnormal gene from affected parent to offspring is 50% for each pregnancy. The risk is the same for males and females.
Uromodulin associated kidney disease is caused by a mutation in a gene that encodes the protein called uromodulin. The abnormal protein builds up in kidney cells and causes slow progression of kidney disease. The reason why affected individuals develop gout is unclear, but likely related to improper function of kidney cells and/or abnormally low amounts of the uromodulin in sites where it is needed.
Autosomal dominant interstitial kidney disease due to rennin mutations is caused by a mutation in a gene that encodes the protein called renin. The abnormal protein either builds up in kidney cells or is not produced in substantial amounts when needed, and this causes slow progression of kidney disease. Because affected individuals have low amounts of normal renin, patients may have mildly low blood pressure and mildly high potassium levels.
Autosomal dominant interstial kidney disease of unknown cause is caused by a mutation in a gene, but the gene that causes the disease is not yet known
Affected Populations
All types of autosomal dominant interstial kidney disease are very uncommon.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of. autosomal dominant interstial kidney disease. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis.
Polycystic kidney disease is an inherited disorder characterized by the presence of cysts in both kidneys. Progressive enlargement of these cysts causes the loss of normal kidney function and high blood pressure. There are infantile and adult forms of polycystic kidney disease. Symptoms may include abdominal enlargement, back pain, blood in the urine (hematuria), high blood pressure (hypertension), weight loss, and/or unusually low levels of fluid in the body (dehydration). Some people with this disorder may also have liver problems and abnormal enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly). Cysts are always seen in the kidneys of families with this condition, making it easy to differentiate from other types of kidney disease. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Polycystic Kidney" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.)
Nephronophthisis is a similar condition. It is characterized by slowly progressive kidney failure. The examination of the urine in this condition also reveals no blood and little protein. However, this condition differs from kidney disease due to uromodulin mutations for several reasons: this condition is inherited as an autosomal recessive disease; kidney failure occurs in childhood, with most individuals requiring dialysis by age 15-25 years; and other symptoms often occur in nephronophthisis (though not always). These symptoms include anemia, producing excessive amounts of urine, and blindness in some individuals.
Standard Therapies
Diagnosis
Several lab tests are very helpful in pointing to this diagnosis. First, a blood test is done to measure the blood creatinine. In this condition, the blood creatinine is usually elevated, beginning in the second decade of life. A blood uric acid level is also tested and is almost always elevated . A urine test (urinalysis) is done. The absence of blood or protein in the urine rules out other possible causes of kidney damage. Thus, most individuals with this condition have high blood uric acid levels, high blood creatinine levels, and a normal urinalysis. A kidney ultrasound is also frequently done and usually shows normal kidneys, though some individuals may be found to have cysts in the middle of the kidney.
Molecular genetic testing is available for the uromodulin and renin gene mutations associated with these conditions. Parents who have child with a specific mutation may want to screen younger children to see if they have the disease. In young children, the serum uric acid level and serum creatinine may be normal. To be certain, genetic testing must be done to determine if the disease is present.
If no mutations are found, individuals have autosomal dominant interstitial kidney disease of unknown genetic cause. Futher genetic testing can be done at academic medical centers to help diagnose this disease
Treatment
Many affected individuals suffer from gout beginning in the teenage years. The gout is easily treated with a medication called allopurinol. Allopurinol is a medicine that is commonly used in the treatment of gout. It has been used for many years and by thousands of patients with gout. Patients occasionally have allergies to the medication, which only rarely are severe. This medication easily controls gout in affected individuals. In uromodulin associated kidney disease, gout, if untreated, will continue and worsen over time. Therefore, early treatment is advisable.
Some doctors believe that allopurinol can slow progression of kidney disease in uromodulin associated kidney disease, even in patients who do not have gout. It is not clear if allopurinol slows progression of disease. It does not appear to stop progression of the kidney disease entirely.
If individuals cannot tolerate allopurinol, similar medicines (febuxostat or probenecid) should be considered.
There are a group of medications called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors that have been shown to slow progression of kidney failure in many kidney diseases. It is unclear if they slow progression of disease in uromodulin associated kidney disease, but it is possible.
For patients with mildly high blood potassium and mildly low blood pressures, the medication fludrocortisone may be an effective treatment. This treatment was found to improve kidney function in one child with this disease, but did not have an effect on an older patient with advanced kidney disease.
Anemia occurring in childhood may be treated with a medication called erythropoietin. This medication is given as a shot once every week or every other week and will correct the anemia.
There are no specific treatments for autosomal dominant interstial kidney disease of unknown genetic cause.
Individuals with renin mutations should avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as ibuprofen (Advil, Aleve) or naprosyn.
Investigational Therapies
Information on current clinical trials is posted on the Internet at www.clinicaltrials.gov. All studies receiving U.S. government funding, and some supported by private industry, are posted on this government web site.
For information about clinical trials being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, contact the NIH Patient Recruitment Office:
Tollfree: (800) 411-1222
TTY: (866) 411-1010
Email: prpl@cc.nih.gov
For information about clinical trials sponsored by private sources, contact:
www.centerwatch.com
Contact for additional information about autosomal dominant interstitial kidney disease:
Anthony J. Bleyer, M.D.
Section on Nephrology
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Medical Center Blvd.
Winston-Salem, NC 27157
336-716-4513
ableyer@wakehealth.edu
Organizations related to Autosomal Dominant Interstitial Kidney Disease
References
TEXTBOOKS
Simkes AM. Medullary Cystic Kidney Disease. In: NORD Guide to Rare Disorders. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia, PA. 2003:693-94.
Bleyer AJ. Familial Juvenile Hyperuricemic Nephropathy. In: NORD Guide to Rare Disorders. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia, PA. 2003:696.
Beers MH, Berkow R, eds. The Merck Manual, 17th ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories; 1999:1905.
Berkow R., ed. The Merck Manual-Home Edition.2nd ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories; 2003:855.
REVIEW ARTICLES
Scolari F, Viola BF, Ghiggeri GM, et al. Toward the identification of (a) gene(s) for autosomal dominant medullary cystic kidney disease. J Nephrol. 2003;16:321-28.
Caridi G, Dagnino M, Miglietti N, et al. Juvenile nephronophthisis and related variants: clinical features and molecular approach. Contrib Nephrol. 2001;(136):57-67.
Hildebrandt F, Otto E. Molecular genetics of nephronophthisis and medullary cystic kidney disease. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2000;11:1753-61.
Gusmano R, Ghiggeri GM, Caridi G. Nephronophthisis-medullary cystic kidney disease: clinical and genetic aspects. J Nephrol. 1998;11:224-28.
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Otto EA, Schermer B, Obara T, et al. Mutations in INVS encoding inversin cause nephronophthisis type 2, linking renal cystic disease to the function of primary cilia and left-right axis determination. Nat Genet. 2003 Jul 20 [Epub ahead of print]
Olbrich H, Fliegauf M, Hoefele J, et al. Mutations in a novel gene, NPHP3, cause adolescent nephronophthisis tapeto-retinal degeneration and hepatic fibrosis. Nat Genet. 2003 Jul 20 [Epub ahead of print]
Otto E, Hoefele J, Ruf R, et al. A gene mutated in nephronophthisis and retinitis pigmentosa encodes a novel protein, nephroretinin, conserved in evolution. Am J Hum Genet. 2002;71:1161-67.
Schuermann MJ, Otto E, Becker A, et al. Mapping of gene loci for nephronophthisis type 4, and Senior-Loken syndrome, to chromosome 1p36. Am J Hum Genet. 2002;70:1240-46.
Hateboer N, Gumbs C, Teare MD, et al. Confirmation of a gene locus for medullary cystic kidney disease (MCKD2) on chromosome 16p12. Kidney Int. 2001;60:1233-39.
Omran H, Haffner K, Burth S, et al. Evidence for further genetic heterogeneity in nephronophthisis. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2001;16:755-58.
FROM THE INTERNET
Cohen D. Medullary cystic disease. Medical Encyclopedia, MEDLINEplus. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000465.htm. Last Updated February 28, 2011. Accessed March 4, 2011.
McKusick VA, ed. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Medullary Cystic Kidney Disease 1; MCKD1. Entry No: 174000; Last Edited June 3, 2009. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim/. Accessed March 4, 2011.
McKusick VA, ed. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Medullary Cystic Kidney Disease 2; MCKD2. Entry No: 603860; Last Updated October 15, 2009. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim/. Accessed March 4, 2011.
Del Rio M, Devarajan P. Medullary Cystic Disease. EMedicine
www.emedicine.com/ped/topic1393.htm. Updated December 15, 2008. Accessed March 4, 2011.
Bleyer AJ, Gupta K. (Updated 9/26/07) UMOD-Related Kidney Disease. In: GeneReviews at GeneTests: Medical Genetics Information Resource (database online). Copyright, University of Washington, Seattle. 1997-2011. Available at http://www.genetests.org. Accessed January 21, 2011.
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Report last updated: 2011/03/08 00:00:00 GMT+0
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