Hereditary interstitial nephritis without basement membrane changes

Hereditary interstitial nephritides are a heterogeneous group of disorders comprising medullary cystic disease, several varieties of Alport's syndrome and also one familial disorder with a distinct clinical syndrome and without characteristic ultrastructural glomerular basement membrane changes. Our family consisted of 11 members, 5 of which presented with renal dysfunction of varying degrees. Clinically, the affected siblings presented with long-standing hypertension, minimal proteinuria and no hematuria. All known causes of a secondary diffuse interstitial nephritis, Alport's syndrome and medullary cystic disease have been excluded. An HLA association is suggested between the affected and unaffected members of the family. Renal biopsy subsequently showed the typical features of a chronic interstitial nephritis without basement membrane changes.