Is Kidney Disease Hereditary?

Kidney disease affects millions of people worldwide. Its causes can be linked to genetic factors. Understanding how family history and genetics play a role in the development of kidney disease can help you and your doctor set up the best plan for treating and monitoring your kidneys' health.

What Is Kidney Disease?

Kidney disease refers to any condition that compromises normal kidney functionWhen you have kidney failure, your kidneys can no longer filter waste products from your blood. This leads to dangerous levels of waste accumulating in your body.

The severity of kidney disease can vary. Some types can be managed with medication, dietary changes, and regular monitoring of kidney function. In more severe cases, dialysis or a kidney transplant may be necessary.

There are three main types of kidney disease:

• Acute kidney injury is when your kidneys suddenly stop filtering wastes from the blood, which can happen within a few hours or daysThis condition is reversible.
• Chronic kidney disease in children and adults is a lifelong condition that may grow more severe over time [3].
• Hereditary kidney disease refers to kidney diseases that can be inherited. Congenital kidney disease develops before birth and can be hereditary [4].

Is Kidney Disease Hereditary?

Some kidney conditions develop due to genetic factors. Changes or mutations in certain genes or chromosomes can result in health conditions like kidney disease. Researchers have identified over 60 kidney diseases that are on the hereditary kidney disease listSome of the most common genetic kidney conditions include:

• Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD): ADPKD is the most common inherited kidney disease. It causes benign cysts to develop in the kidneys. Symptoms usually start to develop in adulthood and include pain in the lower back and headaches [6].
• Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD): ARPKD is a much rarer genetic disorder. ARPKD affects the liver and the kidneys, and symptoms are present from birth. It can cause kidney failure in children, along with liver function issues [7].
• Fabry disease: Fabry disease occurs due to the absence of an enzyme that breaks down fats, carbohydrates, proteins, and other substances. The condition causes damage to the kidneys, as well as to the heart, eyes, ears, brain, and other organs [8].
• Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS): FSGS is caused by a genetic mutation that creates scarring on the tiny filters in your kidneys called the glomeruli. Damage to the glomeruli can lead to kidney failure [9].
• Alport syndrome: Alport syndrome, also known as hereditary nephritis, causes kidney disease and other complications such as hearing and vision loss

Role of Genetics and Family History

Genetic disorders occur when one of your genes undergoes a change (known as a mutation or pathogenic variation) or when you have the wrong amount of genetic material [11].

Genes are passed on from parents to their children, with each parent contributing half of the child’s genetic makeup. Some genetic changes are dominant, which means having one gene with the mutation is enough to cause a disorder. In such cases, one parent can pass a condition to a child. Other changes are recessive, which means a child must inherit the affected gene from both parents to develop the condition.

Some genetic kidney diseases, such as ADPKD, are inherited from just one parent, while others, such as ARPKD, only develop when both parents pass the affected gene to their children.