International Urology and Nephrology
Volume 50, Issue 7, 2018, Pages 1301-1309

How common is Balkan endemic nephropathy among immigrants in endemic regions? (Article)

Đukanović L.* , Račić M. , Marić I. , Maksimović Z. , Simić J. , Aleksić J. , Stanković S. , Pejović V. , Ležaić V.
  • a School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
  • b Faculty of Medicine Foča, University of East Sarajevo, Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • c Special Hospital for Endemic Nephropathy, Lazarevac, Serbia
  • d Faculty of Medicine Foča, University of East Sarajevo, Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • e Health Center, Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • f Health Center, Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • g Center for Medical Biochemistry, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • h Special Hospital for Endemic Nephropathy, Lazarevac, Serbia
  • i School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract

Purpose: In the early 1970s, a number of authors described the development of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) in immigrants in endemic regions. The aim of this study was to examine whether immigrants in endemic regions are suffering from BEN today. Methods: The study involved 193 residents of two endemic regions divided into three groups: two groups of native residents—(1) members of BEN families, (2) members of non-BEN families, and (3) immigrants, who had moved from non-affected settlements to the endemic regions of Kolubara (38 years ago) or Semberia (20 years ago). All persons were subjected to an interview, objective examination, kidney ultrasound, and laboratory analysis to detect the presence of BEN consensus diagnostic criteria. Results: The number of immigrants with BEN biomarkers outside cutoff values was significantly lower than for BEN family members. Five BEN family members met diagnostic criteria for BEN and four for suspected BEN. Although five non-BEN family members had different combinations of BEN biomarkers, all of them had diseases other than BEN in which these biomarkers also occurred. None of the immigrants met the criteria for BEN. Nevertheless, one descendant of an immigrant, a 78-year-old male, whose mother was from a non-BEN family in the Kolubara district, exhibited all the criteria for BEN: alpha1-microglobulinuria, chronic renal failure, and anemia. Conclusion: While 30 years ago, BEN was reported equally among immigrants and natives, currently it is diagnosed in some BEN family members in the eighth decade of life, but extremely rarely in immigrants also in old age. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media B.V., part of Springer Nature.

Author Keywords

Native residents immigrants Balkan endemic nephropathy

Index Keywords

immigrant Europe survival analysis sex ratio human risk assessment middle aged population group statistics and numerical data Population Groups controlled study comparative study Bosnia and Herzegovina Aged Humans migrant family Severity of Illness Index male Emigrants and Immigrants female prevalence Incidence Article major clinical study adult Kidney Failure, Chronic blood analysis disease exacerbation Semberia biological marker Balkan endemic nephropathy Kolubara endemic disease Sex Distribution interstitial nephritis age distribution Serbia cohort analysis Balkan Peninsula Endemic Diseases Urinalysis kidney disease Balkan Nephropathy Disease Progression chronic kidney failure pathophysiology
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85047158072&doi=10.1007%2fs11255-018-1889-7&partnerID=40&md5=58ac89b9c65e17db3967b71ddeb263c0
DOI: 10.1007/s11255-018-1889-7
ISSN: 03011623
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English