Alport syndrome: our knowledge update

Abstract

Alport syndrome is a progressive multisystem disease associated with variants in genes COL4A3, COL4A4, COL4A5.The syndrome is an important genetic cause of kidney failure, including women with X-linked disease. Given the unfavorable natural history of Alport nephropathy and benefit from early treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, it is necessary to change our diagnostic approach in patients with persistent glomerular hematuria and management of patients with Alport syndrome. This review presents the ethiology, pathogenesis, genotype and phenotype heterogeneity of the syndrome and expert clinical practice recommendations to enhancing early diagnosis and achieving optimal outcomes in Alport syndrome.