title: Familial progressive tubulo-interstitial nephropathy and cholestatic liver disease -- a newly recognized entity?
abstract: We describe two siblings (female and male) with progressive tubulo-interstitial nephropathy and cholestatic liver disease. The main characteristics were progressive renal failure and elevated liver enzymes (AST, ALT and gamma-GT). Dialysis was started at the age of 1.9 and 6.5 years, respectively. Renal histology disclosed sclerosed glomeruli and atrophic tubules; the interstitium was fibrotic and infiltrated by lymphocytes. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed segmental irregularities and narrowing of the intrahepatic bile ducts, consistent with early primary sclerosing cholangitis. Liver histology showed enlarged portal triads, mild proliferation and inflammation of bile ducts, and fibrosis. At 5.9 years the girl underwent a successful renal transplantation whereas the boy is still on dialysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association of progressive tubulointerstitial nephropathy and cholestatic liver disease, consistent with early primary sclerosing cholangitis, constitutes a distinct autosomal recessive entity.
authors.affiliation: University Children's Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stallmach
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leumann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Altorfer
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Braegger
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015209:Cholangitis, Sclerosing / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000235:genetics; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005808:Genes, Recessive / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006435:Renal Dialysis