Karyomegalic interstitial nephritis

What it is

A rare, genetic renal disease characterized by slowly progressive, chronic, tubulointerstitial nephritis, leading to end-stage renal disease before the age of 50 years, manifesting with mild proteinuria, glucosuria and, occasionally, urinary sediment abnormalities (mainly hematuria). Mild extrarenal manifestations, such as recurrent upper respiratory tract infections and abnormal liver function tests, may be associated. Renal biopsy reveals severe, chronic, interstitial fibrosis and tubular changes, as well as hallmark karyomegalic tubular epithelial cells which line the proximal and distal tubules and have enlarged, hyperchromatic nuclei.

Key facts

Prevalence

<1 / 1 000 000

Age of onset

Adult

Inheritance

Autosomal recessive

Classified as

Disease

Prevalence figures describe populations, not individuals, and are often estimates from a single study. Where the figure is an incidence or a birth prevalence, it says so.

Gene

ICD-10 codes

ICD-10 has no distinct code for most rare diseases, so many are filed under the nearest available one. A shared code identifies the group, not this disease — the ORPHAcode above is what identifies it.

Related health topics

Reached through the ICD-10 categories this disease is filed under, so these describe the broader group rather than this disease specifically.

Cross-references