Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) comprise a broad spectrum of renal and urinary tract malformations. CAKUT structural anomalies range from complete renal agenesis (the most severe), to renal hypodysplasia, multicystic kidney dysplasia, duplex renal collecting system, ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), megaureter, posterior urethral valves (PUV), and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Renal abnormalities are observed in close relatives of up to 10% of CAKUT patients, although these are frequently asymptomatic. The phenotype often does not follow classic mendelian inheritance: family members with the same genetic defect may have variable phenotypes, ranging from severe renal insufficiency to asymptomatic anomalies. CAKUT occurs in about 1 in 500 live births, but are severe enough to cause neonatal death in about 1 in 2,000 births. In addition, CAKUT can occur in syndromic disorders in association with other congenital anomalies, such as papillorenal syndrome (120330) (summary by Renkema et al., 2011).
Genetic Heterogeneity of Congenital Anomalies of Kidney and Urinary Tract
Also see CAKUT2 (143400), caused by mutation in the TBX18 gene (604613) on chromosome 6q14, and CAKUT3 (618270), caused by mutation in the NRIP1 gene (602490) on chromosome 21q. [from
OMIM]