ANTICIPATION OF END-STAGE RENAL-DISEASE IN AUTOSOMAL-DOMINANT POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY-DISEASE

Recently, anticipation of renal failure, lie. earlier onset of end-sta ge renal disease in successive generations, has been reported in autos omal dominant polycystic kidney disease. In order to evaluate differen ces in length of time in reaching end-stage renal disease, we examined 55 families with accurate information about renal death. In 12 famili es the average difference between the age at renal death in 17 parent- offspring pairs was 7.7 years (range from -5 to 22 years). This value was significantly greater than zero (P = 0.0004). Thus, a substantial decrease in the age at renal death in the offspring as compared with t he parent has been observed in this group of families.