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Center for Nephrology and Metabolic Disorders
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Nephronophthisis

Nephronophthisis is an autosomal recessive disorder that causes cysts restricted to the renal medulla or corticomedullary border, tubular dysfunction and, eventually, renal failure.

Epidemiology

Nephronophthisis accounts for 10 to 20% of chronic renal failure in children and young adults (< 20 yr).

Clinical Findings

The first clinical signs are due to tubular injury that result in concentration defect and salt wastage. Polyuria and polydispsia follow. The net sodium loss probably accounts for lack of hypertension during progressive renal failure. Later on, growth retardation becomes apparent and progressive renal insufficiency develops. Several extrarenal manifestations have been associated with nephronophthisis. Some of them are syndromic and specifically named.

Ocular symptoms associated with nephronophthisis include Senior-Loken syndrome, Leber congenital amaurosis, coloboma, cataract, amblyopia, nystagmus, and retinitis pigmentosa. Nephronophthisis accompanied by tapeto-retinal degeneration is called Senior-Loken syndrome. Two forms of blindness exist. Leber congenital amaurosis is the early form, the children are blind from birth. The electroretinogram is extinct, and retinitis pigmentosa is the accompanying morphological finding. There also exists an late onset form in which blindness occurs later during childhood.

Cerebral symptoms accompanying nephronophthisis are usually also accompanied by retinal degeneration. The symptoms can lead to mental retardation and cerebellar ataxia. Two syndromes describe these symptoms: Cogan syndrome (oculomotor apraxia and hypoplasia of cerebellar vermix) and Joubert syndrome (cerebellar vermix hypoplasia, ataxia, hypotonia, developmental delay, and respiratory distress at birth).

Bon abnormalities present with cone-shaped epiphysis and are almost always associated with other extrarenal findings.

Hepatic changes include hepatospenomegaly and portal fibrosis without or with only mild duct proliferation.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs are rather unspecific. Urinalysis shows few tubular abnormalities, but helps to exclude other renal disease. Family history (if present) provides further evidence but seldom allows to further differentiate the exact type of disease. As renal cysts become visible late in disease only, ultrasonography, CT, and MRI fail to provide an early diagnosis. Renal biopsy, though specific, is typically not performed because it is invasive. By contrast, molecular genetic testing is the only way to get an early, precise and non-invasive diagnosis.

Registry

Nephronophthise - Münster

Systematic

Medullary cystic disease complex
Ciliopathy
Medullary cystic kidney disease
Nephronophthisis
Nephronophthisis 01
NPHP1
Nephronophthisis 02
INVS
Nephronophthisis 03
NPHP3
Nephronophthisis 04
NPHP4
Nephronophthisis 05
IQCB1
Nephronophthisis 06
CEP290
Nephronophthisis 07
GLIS2
Nephronophthisis 08
RPGRIP1L
Nephronophthisis 09
NEK8
Nephronophthisis 10
SDCCAG8
Nephronophthisis 11
TMEM67
Nephronophthisis 12
TTC21B
Nephronophthisis 13
WDR19
Nephronophthisis 14
ZNF423
Nephronophthisis 15
CEP164
Nephronophthisis 16
ANKS6
Nephronophthisis 17
IFT172
Nephronophthisis 18
CEP83
Nephronophthisis 19
DCDC2
Nephronophthisis 20
MAPKBP1
Nephronophthisis-like nephropathy 1
XPNPEP3
Senior-Loken syndrome

References:

1.

Orphanet article

Orphanet ID 655 external link
2.

Wikipedia article

Wikipedia EN (Nephronophthisis) external link
Update: Aug. 14, 2020
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