Multidisciplinary management improves the genetic diagnosis of hereditary kidney diseases in the next generation sequencing (NGS) era.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hereditary kidney diseases (HKD) are a frequent cause of chronic kidney disease, and their diagnosis has increased since the introduction of next generation sequencing (NGS). In 2018, the Multidisciplinary Unit for Hereditary Kidney Diseases of the Region of Murcia (UMERH-RM) was founded based on the genetic study of HKD. The objective of this study is to analyze the results obtained in the first 3 years of operation, and to analyze the clinical factors associated to a final genetic diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the patients studied with the HKD gene panel were included. The characteristics between those who obtained a final genetic diagnosis and those who did not were compared. RESULTS: A total of 360 patients were studied, detecting genetic variants in 164 not related patients (45.6%). 45 of these were variants of uncertain significance requiring a family co-segregation study, which was facilitated by the multidisciplinary unit. Overall, considering the results obtained with the NGS panel and the extended genomic studies, a final diagnostic yield of HRD of 33.3% (120/360) was achieved, and including incidental findings 35.6% (128/360). Two hundred and twenty-three patients with suspected Alport syndrome were studied. Diagnosis was confirmed in 28.5% (COL4A4 most frequent gene), more frequently women with an obvious compatible family history. They also had frequently microhematuria, although 5 patients without microhematuria confirmed the diagnosis. There were no differences in age, proteinuria, renal function, hearing loss, or ophthalmologic abnormalities. The most frequent finding in the renal biopsy was mesangial proliferation. We estimate that 39 patients avoided renal biopsy. A total of 101 patients with suspected PKD were also studied, 49.5% had a conclusive genetic result (most frequent gene PKD1), more frequently women, with larger kidney sizes (although 9 patients with normal kidney size confirmed diagnosis). Again, the most predictive characteristic of genetic outcome was family history. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an NGS panel for HKD, together with the multidisciplinary approach to cases, has improved the diagnostic performance of HKD. In our sample, autosomal dominant Alport syndrome is of highest incidence. Ophthalmological and auditory examinations did not contribute to the diagnosis. We have seen a significant decrease in the indication of renal biopsies thanks to molecular diagnosis. The multidisciplinary approach, with the active participation of nephrologists, paediatricians, clinical and molecular geneticists, with insistence on adequate patient phenotyping and review of their family history, offers a better interpretation of genetic variants, allowing reclassification of the diagnosis of some nephropathies, thus improving their management and genetic advice.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in young adults.

Background: The clinical manifestations of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) usually appear in adulthood, however pediatric series report a high morbidity. The objective of the study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of ADPKD in young adults. Methods: Family history, hypertension, albuminuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and imaging tests were examined in 346 young adults (18-30 years old) out of 2521 patients in the Spanish ADPKD registry (REPQRAD). A literature review searched for reports on hypertension in series with more than 50 young (age <30 years) ADPKD patients. Results: The mean age of this young adult cohort was 25.24 (SD 3.72) years. The mean age at diagnosis of hypertension was 21.15 (SD 4.62) years, while in the overall REPQRAD population was aged 37.6 years. The prevalence of hypertension was 28.03% and increased with age (18-24 years, 16.8%; 25-30 years, 36.8%). Although prevalence was lower in women than in men, the age at onset of hypertension (21 years) was similar in both sexes. Mean eGFR was 108 (SD 21) mL/min/1.73 m2, 38.0% had liver cysts and 3.45% of those studied had intracranial aneurysms. In multivariate analyses, hematuria episodes and kidney length were independent predictors of hypertension (area under the curve 0.75). The prevalence of hypertension in 22 pediatric cohorts was 20%-40%, but no literature reports on hypertension in young ADPKD adults were found. Conclusions: Young adults present non-negligible ADPKD-related morbidity. This supports the need for a thorough assessment of young adults at risk of ADPKD that allows early diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.

Reflections on TRP and TP/GFR in the definition of renal phosphate loss: conceptual review.

BACKGROUND: Fractional tubular reabsorption of phosphate (TRP) has been used for over 60 years to establish the existence of renal phosphate loss. It is a parameter of corrected volume per decilitre of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Later, a mass parameter per dl GFR called TP/GFR (tubular PO4 reabsorption per dl GFR) was devised which some authors have sought to substitute for TRP. The aim of the present work is to attempt to demonstrate that TRP and TP/GFR are similar parameters and, in certain aspects, TRP is more effective for diagnosis. METHODS: Data were gathered on the metabolism of phosphate corresponding to a group of healthy children without hypophosphatemia (n = 47), a group of patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria (n = 27), and ten patients diagnosed with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH). The TRP, the TP/GFR, and the percent tubular reabsorption of phosphate were calculated. RESULTS: All the patients with XLH presented TRP values lower than 95 ml/dl GFR and of TP/GFR equal to or lower than 2.8 mg/dl GFR. In the total sample, a direct correlation was observed between TRP and TP/GFR (r = 0.65; p = 0.01). The TRP and the percent tubular reabsorption of phosphate values were the same in the three groups (r = 1; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: TRP and TP/GFR are similar parameters. TRP is more effective than TP/GFR given that in renal hypophosphatemia it is always below 95% and above 95% in reduced phosphatemia and normal kidney proximal tubular function. There is no solid reason for using TP/GFR rather than TRP. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Can acetazolamide be used to treat diseases involving increased bone mineral density?

Sclerosing bone dysplasias are a series of clinically and genetically heterogeneous diseases characterized by functional failure of the osteoclasts in bone resorption, leading to an excessive amount of bone mineral density (BMD) which could have serious clinical consequences. We treated three children affected with seriously high levels of BMD with acetazolamide, with the intention of inducing metabolic acidosis, thus increasing bone resorption and reducing BMD. All our patients tolerated and followed the treatment well and the clinical response was satisfactory in all cases.

[Unilateral renal agenesis. New arguments about the genetic relationship between kidney malformations and urolithiasis]. / Agenesia renal unilateral. Nuevos argumentos acerca de la relación genética entre la urolitiasis y las malformaciones renales.

BACKGROUND: In few previous works, it has been reported that hypercalciuria is associated with some types of CAKUT, namely ureteropelvic junction obstruction, vesicoureteral reflux or simple renal cysts. In addition, one higher prevalence of hypercalciuria and/or urolithiasis has been described in their family members compared to the general population. This study was carried out to find out whether children with unilateral renal agenesis (URA) have these features previously described in other CAKUT types. METHODS: In a descriptive and multicenter study we studied the prevalence of hypercalciuria, hypocitraturia and urolithiasis in 67 children (43 males and 24 females) with URA and their families. RESULTS: The two metabolic anomalies that promote stone formation were observed in 26 children (38.8%), distributed as follows: hypercalciuria in 16, hypocitraturia in 9, and both hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia in 1. Eight children (11.9%) suffered renal colic during follow-up. Familial history of urolithiasis was found in 42/67 children (62.7%): in 12 of the first-degree relatives, in 15 of the second degree relatives and in 15 patients both in the first-degree as in their second degree relatives. In contrast, in historic control group, only in 28.1% of families at least one member had urolithiasis. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the prevalence of hypercalciuria and/or hypocitraturia is greater in pediatric patients with URA than in the general population. Likewise, the prevalence of urolithiasis in the families of these children is also higher than that in the general population.