Balkan endemic nephropathy
It is a rare disease that affects people in the Balkans, ie people living in rural areas of Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, and Serbia (areas along the Danube river and its tributaries).
Pathophysiology[edit | edit source]
Affected individuals develop kidney damage that slowly progresses over 10 to 20 years to kidney failure. Many people with this condition also develop a type of bladder known as upper urothelial carcinoma (UUC).
Cause[edit | edit source]
Balkan endemic nephropathy is caused by chronic dietary exposure to low concentrations of a called aristolochic acid, which comes from a plant called Aristolochia clematis.
Genetics[edit | edit source]
Genetics factors may also be involved.
Prevention[edit | edit source]
There is no specific prevention or treatment of this condition.
Management[edit | edit source]
Management depends upon strategies that delay progression and manage the complications of the kidney disease or kidney transplantation may be needed.
NIH genetic and rare disease info[edit source]
Balkan endemic nephropathy is a rare disease.
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