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Kidney worry highlighted in research by Italian doctors

More than four out of every ten people with CdLS could be suffering from kidney problems, according to Italian doctors.

Speaking at the World CdLS Federation conference in Sydney, Dr Angelo Selicorni, the professional director of the Italian CdLS Association, said that early indications suggest that some 41 per cent of CdLS people are showing signs of renal anomalies.

Dr Selicorni is hoping that UK families will join other European countries in participating in the full research project and undergo tests at their local hospitals.

In the Italian project, 61 people with CdLS were giving ultrasound examinations and Basal blood and urine tests. Only 59 per cent showed a ‘normal’ result.

Classical

Some 56 per cent of those with ‘classical’ CdLS showed renal abnormalities and 30 per cent of the ‘mild’ patients showed abnormalities.

The percentage of those with mild renal functional anomalies was considered high and, Dr Selicorni said, “a significant percentage of these patients show a mild degree of renal insufficiency”.

This is the first time that potential renal issues have been investigated and doctors at the Professionals Conference organised by the Scientific Advisory Council questioned whether this could be a possible link to some of the feeding problems that CdLS infants and children suffer from.

Dr Selicorni said it was possible that renal abnormalities could be found where children are refusing food.

Low grade

He also said that low grade fever, which affects a number of CdLS youngsters, could be caused by an infection of the urinary tract.

Dr Selicorni said that if the results continue to support those shown in the Italian research, then it would be necessary for people with CdLS to have periodic ultrasound tests.

“It may be that those with normal renal function could develop problems later. We need to get some more information so we can treat this,” he said.

He stressed that in the cases they had seen there were only minor renal issues rather than kidney failure.

• The research project is being presented to the UK’s professional director, Dr David Fitzpatrick, and the Foundation council for ethical approval before it is passed to UK families.