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Male urinary system

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Alport syndrome

Alternative Names: Hereditary nephritis; Hematuria - nephropathy - deafness; Hemorrhagic familial nephritis; Hereditary deafness and nephropathy Symptoms: Abnormal urine color Blood in the urine Loss of hearing, more common in males Decrease or loss of vision, more common in males Cough Ankle, feet, and leg swelling Swelling, overall Swelling around the eyes Note: There may be no symptoms in some cases. Symptoms of chronic renal failure or heart failure may be present or may develop. Signs and tests: Text Continues Below A doctor's exam will likely only reveal blood in the urine. Minute amounts of blood (microscopic hematuria) is present from birth in the urine of nearly all affected males. The blood pressure may be elevated. Examination of the eyes may show changes in the fundus (posterior inner part of eye) or lens changes, cataracts, or lens protrusion (lenticonus). An ear exam will show no structural changes. Urinalysis shows blood, protein, and other abnormalities. BUN, creatinine are elevated. Red blood cell count, hematocrit may decrease. Hematuria test is positive. Audiometry may show nerve deafness. Renal biopsy shows chronic glomerulonephritis with the changes typical of Alport syndrome.

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