Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

azotemia 177
early childhood, typically following an upper respiratory
viral INFECTION such as a cold. As the damage
to the kidneys progresses, symptoms expand to
include ALBUMINURIA (excessive albumin or protein
in the urine) and HYPERTENSION (high BLOOD PRES-
SURE). About 80 percent of those who have Alport’s
syndrome develop neurosensory HEARING LOSS by
ADOLESCENCE, and 15 percent have irregularities in
the shape of the lens of the eye (lenticonus).
Symptoms in combination with family history
strongly suggest Alport’s syndrome, though kidney
biopsy is the definitive diagnostic tool. Kidney
biopsy, in which the urologist extracts a core of
kidney tissue using a large-gauge needle, allows
the him or her to determine the absence of any of
the three affected protein chains as well as to
assess the degree of damage already present. SKIN
biopsy can confirm X-linked Alport’s syndrome
because the skin in this type of the disorder lacks
the alpha-5 protein chain.
Treatment Options and Outlook
Treatment is primarily supportive and targets
symptoms such as hypertension, hearing loss, and
VISION IMPAIRMENT. For people who reach ESRD,
KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION often offers a viable therapeutic
course. With treatment, many people who
have Alport’s syndrome are able to enjoy the
lifestyles of their choosing well into the fifth or
sixth decade of life. The likelihood of RENAL FAILURE
increases with age, however.
Risk Factors and Preventive Measures
Because Alport’s syndrome is an inherited genetic
disorder, the only risks for this condition are the
causative gene mutations. There are no measures
to prevent the condition. Early treatment for consequential
health conditions and close medical
monitoring of kidney function help maintain optimal
health.
See also ALVEOLUS; GENETIC DISORDERS; GLOMERU-
LUS; INHERITANCE PATTERNS; MUTATION; RENAL DIALYSIS.
anuria The failure to produce URINE. Numerous
circumstances can result in anuria, from severe
DEHYDRATION and severe HYPOTENSION (low BLOOD
PRESSURE) to END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE (ESRD) and
RENAL FAILURE. Anuria requires prompt medical
evaluation to determine and remedy the underlying
cause. Without such correction, waste byproducts
accumulate to toxic levels and the body
cannot continue to function.
See also DYSURIA; ENURESIS; NOCTURIA; OLIGURIA;
URINARY INCONTINENCE.
azotemia
See UREMIA.