Abstract
Alport Syndrome (AS) is an inherited progressive disease that is caused by mutations of the genes encoding the key collagen chains, α3, α4, and α5, which are necessary for the composition of collagen type IV to form a robust glomerular basement membrane (GBM), capable of withstanding the significant biomechanical strain to which the glomerulus is subjected. Progressive loss of the filtration barrier allows excessive proteinuria, which ultimately leads to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The evidence for a beneficial renoprotective effect of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition and/or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) is well established in AS and recent evidence has shown that it can significantly delay the time to onset of renal replacement therapy and ESKD. Future potential treatments of AS disease progression are evaluated in this review.
MeSH terms
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Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / therapeutic use
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Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Animals
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Collagen Type IV / genetics
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Collagen Type IV / metabolism*
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Disease Progression
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Fibrosis
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Genetic Predisposition to Disease
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Humans
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Kidney / drug effects*
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Kidney / metabolism*
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Kidney / pathology
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Kidney / physiopathology
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Kidney Failure, Chronic / metabolism
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Kidney Failure, Chronic / physiopathology
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Kidney Failure, Chronic / prevention & control
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Mutation
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Nephritis, Hereditary / diagnosis
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Nephritis, Hereditary / genetics
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Nephritis, Hereditary / metabolism*
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Nephritis, Hereditary / physiopathology
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Nephritis, Hereditary / therapy*
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Phenotype
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Proteinuria / metabolism
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Proteinuria / physiopathology
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Proteinuria / prevention & control
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Renal Agents / therapeutic use*
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Renin-Angiotensin System / drug effects
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Stem Cell Transplantation
Substances
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Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers
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Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
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Collagen Type IV
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Renal Agents