Alport Syndrome causes progressive kidney damage. The glomeruli and other normal kidney structures such as tubules are gradually replaced by scar tissue, leading to kidney failure. All boys with Alport Syndrome, regardless of the genetic type, eventually develop kidney failure. These boys often need dialysis or transplantation during their teenage or young adult years, but kidney failure can occur as late as 40-50 years of age in some men with Alport Syndrome. Most girls with the X-linked type of Alport Syndrome do not develop kidney failure. However, as woman with Alport Syndrome get older the risk of kidney failure increases.