| A primary glomerular disease with characteristics of proteinuria, type IV renal tubular acidosis, microscopic hematuria and hypertension that may lead to end-stage renal failure in the second to sixth decade of life. Fibronectin glomerulopathy may present at different ages, although mostly in adolescence or early adulthood, with typical features of a nephrotic syndrome including hypertension. Clustering of the disease within families indicates a genetic origin. In 40% of families, the disease is caused by heterozygous mutations in the FN1 gene (2q34) encoding fibronectin. Whole-genome linkage analysis in a large pedigree showed another disease locus on 1q32, however no specific candidate genes has been identified so far. Segregation with disease appearance in successive generations is consistent with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance with age-related penetrance. |
