Familial nephropathy with hyperuricemia and gout

Chronic interstitial nephropathy with disproportionate hyperuricemia (serum uric acid 10.5-14.8 mg/dl [625-880 mumol/l] at a GFR of 40 ml/min/1.73 m2) was observed in 2 girls and their mother who suffered from gout since the age of 20 years. Urinary excretion of uric acid was normal. Renal biopsies in the 3 patients showed focal tubulointerstitial nephropathy. Absolute values of GFR remained stable in the 2 pediatric patients over a period of 10 years, whereas the older patient required dialysis at the age of 34 years. We speculate that this family suffers from a primary interstitial nephropathy which is accompanied by a subtle defect in tubular excretion of urate. A few similar observations have been reported in literature which suggests that dominantly inherited interstitial nephropathy with hyperuricemia and gout represents a distinct entity.