kidney and urinary tract disorders
Alport Syndrome
Introduction
Alport syndrome is a hereditary (genetic) disorder that results in glomerulonephritis in which kidney function is poor, blood is present in the urine, and deafness and eye abnormalities sometimes occur. (See also Overview of Kidney Filtering Disorders and Alport syndrome is usually caused by a genetic mutation on the X chromosome (female sex chromosome), but it sometimes results from an abnormal gene on a nonsex (autosomal) chromosome. The mutation causes an abnormality in the basement membrane of the glomerulus with leakage of blood cells and protein into the urine. Other factors influence how severe the disorder is in a person who has the genetic mutation. Alport syndrome can cause Chronic Kidney Disease , sometimes with loss of most kidney function (kidney failure). 