List of rare kidney diseases
What are rare kidney diseases?
Rare kidney diseases are a group of conditions that affect the kidneys and urinary tract and these are relatively uncommon in the general public. These diseases affect a few people in a population. That’s why they are called rare kidney diseases.
Rare kidney diseases may be genetic, meaning they are inherited from parents to offspring, or they may develop later in life as a result of other medical conditions, chemicals, medicine or environmental factors.
Some examples of rare kidney diseases are polycystic kidney disease, Alport syndrome, and Fabry disease.
Symptoms of rare kidney diseases can vary from person to person and may include kidney pain, changes in urine output, swelling in the extremities, changes in the urinary bladder and kidney structure and high blood pressure.
Treatment for rare kidney diseases may include medications, surgery, dialysis, or a kidney transplant.
In this article, we will discus list of rare kidney diseases that are not common and affect few people in population.
List of rare kidney diseases
Rare kidney diseases are medical disorders that affect the kidneys and urinary tract and are not commonly seen in the general population.
These conditions can be mild or severe depending on the severity of the disease. Here is a list of some rare kidney diseases that are very prominent.
Alport syndrome
Alport syndrome is an inherited disorder that affects the kidneys, hearing, and eyes. It is often caused by mutations in genes that produce collagen. It is a protein that helps to maintain the structure of the body’s tissues and organs.
Alport syndrome damages the tiny filters in the kidneys, leading to kidney failure.
Fabry disease
Fabry disease is a rare genetic disorder that affects the kidneys and other organs. It is caused by a deficiency in an enzyme called alpha-galactosidase A. Deficiency of alpha-galactosidase causes the accumulation of a substance called globotriaosylceramide in the body’s cells. And an excess of this substance cause damage to the kidneys, heart, and other organs.
Medullary cystic kidney disease
Medullary cystic kidney disease is a rare inherited disorder that causes cysts in the medulla, or inner part, of the kidneys.
These cysts first make the size of the kidneys enlarged and then damage them, which leads to kidney failure.
Nephronophthisis
Nephronophthisis is a rare genetic disorder that affects the kidneys and urinary tract. It is characterized by the excessive loss of kidney function due to the destruction of the nephrons, which are the structural and functional units of the kidneys that filter waste products from the blood and remove them from the body.
Polycystic kidney disease
Polycystic kidney disease is a rare genetic disorder that causes cysts to form in the kidneys, which damage them, leading to kidney failure.
It is caused by mutations in genes that regulate the development and function of the kidneys.
Primary hyperoxaluria
Primary hyperoxaluria is also a rare inherited disorder that affects the kidneys and urinary tract and this disease is found in a very small population.
It is caused by a deficiency in an enzyme called alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase. A deficiency of this enzyme causes the accumulation of a substance called oxalate in the body.
This oxalate causes damage to the kidneys and other organs when it is accumulated in large quantities.
Renal tubular acidosis
This is a rare disorder that affects the kidneys’ ability to regulate the acid-base balance in the body. It can be inherited or acquired and can lead to kidney failure if left untreated.
Bardet-Biedl syndrome
The bardet-Biedle syndrome is a rare inherited disorder that affects the kidney along with multiple organs and systems in the body.
It is characterized by the progressive loss of kidney function due to the destruction of the nephrons which is the functional unit of the kidney.
Dent disease
Dent disease is a rare inherited disorder that affects the kidneys and urinary tract. It is usually caused by a deficiency in an enzyme called alpha-galactosidase B, which leads to the accumulation of a substance called galactose in the body.
Excessive accumulation of galactose can cause damage to the kidneys and other organs. It can also affect multiple systems of the body.
Segmental glomerulosclerosis
It is a rare genetic disorder that affects the kidneys and produce scarring of the tiny filters in the kidneys called glomeruli.
It can be inherited or acquired and can cause kidney failure if it is left untreated.
It is very important to diagnose and treat these rare kidney diseases on time to prevent or slow down the progression of kidney damage and to maintain proper kidney function.
Treatment options for rare kidney diseases may include medications, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, kidney transplantation.
Summary
Rare kidney diseases are genetic or acquired medical disorders that affect the kidneys and urinary tract and are not commonly found in the general population. These conditions can range from mild to severe.
Examples of rare kidney diseases are Alport syndrome, Fabry disease, medullary cystic kidney disease, nephronophthisis, autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, primary hyperoxaluria, renal tubular acidosis, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, Dent disease, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.
It is crucial to diagnose and treat these rare kidney diseases as soon as possible to prevent or slow the progression of kidney damage and to preserve kidney function. Treatment options include medications, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, kidney transplantation.