title: Genetic predictors of renal failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Both environmental and genetic factors contribute to the development and progression of chronic kidney disease. The completion of the human genome sequence and advances in genomic technology make possible identification of gene variants associated with renal failure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review discusses the relevant genetic studies in chronic kidney disease, with particular emphasis on the most common causes of end stage renal failure, diabetic nephropathy and glomerulonephritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Most of the studies presented were performed in recent years and employed association studies, both population-based and with candidate genes, as well as the genome-wide association and genome-wide scan approaches.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing evidence supports an important role of genetic susceptibility in the development and progression of renal failure. Identification of disease genes will allow the identification of patients at high risk and the development of new strategies to prevent or delay the renal disease process.
authors.affiliation: Professor of Medical Sciences Medical University of Lublin, Laboratory for DNA Analysis and Molecular Diagnostics, Department of Nephrology, Dr K Jaczewskiego 8, 20-954 Lublin, Poland +48 81 7244 716 ; +48 81 7244 716 ; monika.buraczynska@am.lublin.pl.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buraczynska