Catching Alport syndrome through universal age-3 urine screening
The most common first diagnosis of Alport syndrome in Japan is during the universal age-3 urine screening. In 60% of these children, the disease had already progressed far enough to qualify for treatment. Therefore, universal early-age urinalysis may be an apt means for both better prognoses and reduced costs of medical care.
Alport syndrome is a genetic disease that affects about one in 5,000 people. Patients cannot produce a certain type of collagen which leads to kidney failure, and may also lead to hearing loss and ...