[Familial nature of Balkan endemic nephropathy]

Quite contradictory data are found in literature as regards the family character of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN). Various authors report various incidence, ranging from 30 to 100%. During the period 1961-1980, a total of 2252 patients with BEN were followed up. With the processing of their family-grams, the greater part of the patients showed a familial grouping. Two or a greater number of affected by BEN were found in the family-grams of 1982 of the patients, i.e. the family character was established in 88%. In many families, followed-up for years as free of BEN, single cases of the disease appeared. In spite of that fact, the family character of BEN is characteristic for the disease and deserves a particular attention in the elucidation of etiology and pathogenesis of BEN.