GENETIC PREDISPOSITION TO BALKAN ENDEMIC NEPHROPATHY

This study is the first cytogenetic investigation of healthy relatives of patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) who were born in no nendemic areas. Characteristics of BEN No. 3 chromosomal anomalies (ex tremely high frequencies of 3q25 homologue discordance - 68.5 +/- (SD) 5.03% vs. 6.65 +/- 0.95% in controls, p < 0.001; chromosome breaks at 3q25 band - 0.79 +/- 0.25% vs. 0.01% in controls, p < 0.001; structur al aberrations affecting 3q25 band), very high frequency of acquired c hromosomal aberrations (5.74 +/- 0.64% vs. 1.72 +/- 0.3% in controls) and a family history with 1 or 2 BEN parents were identified in 5 rela tives. It is proposed that they are at high risk for developing the di sease and that a genetic mechanism might be involved in the etiology o f BEN.