Can kidney disease be inherited? A must-read for those with kidney disease in their family!

In many people's minds, kidney disease seems to be caused by bad living habits, diseases and other factors. But in fact, kidney disease may also be inherited. If there is a kidney disease patient in the family, other family members need to pay special attention to their own kidney health and learn relevant knowledge in order to better prevent and deal with kidney disease.

1. Common hereditary kidney diseases

1. Polycystic kidney disease : This is a relatively common hereditary kidney disease, which is divided into autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). ADPKD is more common, and its inheritance is autosomal dominant, which means that as long as one parent carries the pathogenic gene, the children have a 50% chance of inheriting the gene and becoming ill. The patient's kidneys will have multiple cysts of varying sizes, which will gradually increase in size, compressing normal kidney tissue, causing damage to kidney structure and function. Early patients may not have obvious symptoms. As the disease progresses, symptoms such as low back pain, hematuria, proteinuria, and hypertension will occur, and may eventually develop into renal failure. ARPKD is relatively rare, and its inheritance is autosomal recessive. It usually occurs in infancy or childhood, and the condition is more serious. In addition to kidney involvement, it may also be accompanied by lesions of organs such as the liver.

2. Hereditary nephritis : Also known as Alport syndrome, it is a hereditary disease that mainly affects the glomeruli. There are many types of inheritance, including X-linked dominant inheritance, autosomal dominant inheritance, and autosomal recessive inheritance. X-linked dominant inheritance is the most common, and male patients are often more seriously ill than female patients. Patients mainly present with hematuria, which often occurs in childhood or adolescence, often accompanied by progressive renal dysfunction, and may also be accompanied by extrarenal manifestations such as hearing loss and eye abnormalities. As the disease progresses, most male patients will develop end-stage renal disease between the ages of 30 and 50. Female patients are relatively milder, but some will also have renal insufficiency.

3. Thin basement membrane nephropathy : This is a hereditary disease characterized by diffuse thinning of the glomerular basement membrane, which is mostly autosomal dominant. Patients mainly present with persistent microscopic hematuria, and a few patients may have macroscopic hematuria, which is generally not accompanied by proteinuria, edema and hypertension. Most patients have normal renal function and a good prognosis. However, some patients may also experience renal impairment, especially when combined with other risk factors (such as hypertension, infection, etc.).

2. What to do if there is a kidney disease patient in the family

1. Understand family medical history : For those who have kidney disease in their family, the first thing to do is to understand the family medical history as detailed as possible. Knowing the specific type of kidney disease, age of onset, disease progression, treatment status, etc. of the sick relatives will help you determine whether you have a genetic risk. You can collect this information by communicating with family members, checking medical records, etc., and record it. If multiple people in the family suffer from the same kidney disease and the onset characteristics have a certain regularity, then the possibility of inheritance is greater.

2. Regular physical examination : Regular physical examination is an important means of early detection of kidney disease. It is recommended to have a comprehensive physical examination once a year, including renal function test (such as blood creatinine, urea nitrogen, cystatin C, etc.), urine routine test (to check whether there are abnormalities such as proteinuria and hematuria), renal ultrasound examination (to observe the structure and morphology of the kidney), etc. For people with a clear genetic tendency, the frequency of physical examinations may need to be appropriately increased. Early detection of clues of kidney disease and timely intervention measures can effectively delay the progression of the disease.

3. Maintain a healthy lifestyle : Regardless of whether there is a genetic risk, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial to preventing kidney disease. In terms of diet, control the intake of salt, protein and phosphorus, avoid high-salt, high-fat, high-protein diets, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, and maintain a balanced nutrition. Moderate exercise is also indispensable. At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, etc. Exercise can enhance physical fitness, improve immunity, promote blood circulation, and help protect kidney health. At the same time, quit smoking and limit alcohol, avoid staying up late, maintain a good attitude, and reduce mental stress.

4. Genetic counseling : If there are patients with kidney disease in the family and there is a suspected genetic risk, it is recommended to seek professional genetic counseling. Genetic counselors can conduct genetic risk assessments based on family medical history, personal health status and other information, and provide personalized advice. They can explain the inheritance mode, probability of occurrence, detection methods and other knowledge of genetic diseases to help family members understand their genetic status and make reasonable decisions. For example, for couples who are planning to have children, if there is hereditary kidney disease in the family, genetic counseling can help them understand the genetic risks of their offspring and guide them to conduct prenatal diagnosis or take other intervention measures to reduce the risk of birth of a sick fetus.

Kidney disease is indeed hereditary, and those with kidney disease in their family need to be vigilant. By understanding common hereditary kidney diseases, understanding family medical history, regular physical examinations, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and seeking genetic counseling, we can better prevent and deal with kidney disease and protect the kidney health of ourselves and our families. Let us pay attention to the impact of genetic factors on kidney disease and take positive actions to protect kidney health.