title: RenalTube: a network tool for clinical and genetic diagnosis of primary tubulopathies.
abstract: The main purpose was to build a database while facilitating access to genotyping in order to improve the clinical and molecular knowledge of primary tubulopathies. Three tertiary referral centers of Spain collect clinical data through the site http://www.renaltube.com , while offering the analysis of 22 genes corresponding to 23 primary tubulopathies. There are three ways of collaboration: option 1 consists of adding patients to the database with clinical and biochemical information and requesting for genetic study, option 2 requires the payment of a fee for genetic analysis exclusively, and option 3 allows the enrollment of patients with a previously confirmed mutation. After 2 years of activity, RenalTube has collected data from 222 patients, the majority from Spain and Latin America (85.3 %). The most common tubulopathies are distal renal tubular acidosis (22.5 %) and classical Bartter syndrome (19.3 %) followed by familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis (15.7 %) and Gitelman syndrome (15 %). Option 1 is the collaborating method preferred by doctors (62.3 %) followed by option 3 (36.3 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RenalTube is a network-based registry that can be easily reached and filled out worldwide. A web-based approach with a multilateral collaboration scheme enhances the recruitment of data and promotes the understanding of underlying mechanisms of rare inherited diseases, defines more accurate diagnostic and follow-up criteria, develops new molecular techniques and will improve the overall care of the patients.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Oviedo, C/Julián Clavería s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain. namega@hotmail.com
authors: Natalia
authors: N
authors: Mejía
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Santos
authors: Félix
authors: F
authors: Claverie-Martín
authors: Víctor
authors: V
authors: García-Nieto
authors: Gema
authors: G
authors: Ariceta
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Castaño
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D005820:Genetic Testing; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D020407:Internet; D012042:Registries; D015499:Renal Tubular Transport, Inborn Errors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D013030:Spain; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
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