Hereditary kidney diseases are disorders of kidney which runs in family and are inherited in children from parents through genes. These include polycystic kidney disease, Alport syndrome, etc.
Paras Hospitals Gurgaon has a well established and integrated unit of Fetal Medicine and Pediatric Nephrology. Fetuses, infants and adolescents kidney care is delivered with exceptional medical proficiency.
Polycystic Kidney Disease
Polycystic kidney disease is characterized by large sized kidneys due to fluid-filled cysts—abnormal sacs—that increase the size of kidneys over time. These cysts occupy the normal functioning kidney tissue. It may be autosomal dominant in whom one parent is affected or autosomal recessive in whom both parents carry the mutated gene. Gradually the kidney functions decline and leads to end stage renal disease in 3rd or 4th decade of life in autosomal dominant. In autosomal recessive variety there is early onset of renal failure in first decade of life. Usually it remains asymptomatic but many children have recurrent urinary tract infections, hypertension, kidney stone, etc which hasten deterioration of renal function.
Alport Syndrome
Alport Syndrome is an inherited disease caused by gene mutation in a type of protein called collagen which is a structural component in various tissues like the kidney, inner ear and eye. It affects males more than females.
Children with Alport Syndrome present with hematuria (presence of blood in the urine) which is usually microscopic sometimes after cold/flu. Gradually proteinuria ensues which may damage glomeruli by fibrosis and lead to scarring in kidney and progressive decline in kidney function.
Treatment
Paras Hospitals, Gurgaon has well developed clinical protocols to treat patients with Alport Syndrome and Polycystic Kidney Disease. The team of nephrologists also specialize in renal replacement therapy.
