Review of the genetics of renal disease

The results of many of human studies indicate that the genetics of the more common forms of renal disease are quite complex. There are indications tha t human renal disease may be both polygenic and heterogenic. There are seve ral approaches. Some researchers studying small populations are collecting larger numbers of families with multiple affected individuals. Others are e mploying discordant sib-pair analysis. Also, trios (individual with renal d isease and that individual's parents) have been suggested as a means of col lecting larger numbers of people with renal disease. Another population of interest is the group susceptible to nephrotoxicity. At common doses of nephrotoxic drugs and common levels of exposure to envir onmental and occupational nephrotoxic substances, only a portion of those s imilarly exposed develop significant renal damage. This subset of individua ls may have a genetic susceptibility to renal damage caused by toxic agents .