Alport Syndrome (AS) is known as an inherited kidney disorder that could affect the eyes, ears and kidneys. Damage on basement membrane of kidneys typically causes blood and proteins in urine. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine are signs for worsened illness condition so it raises great worries among the patients.
In the kidneys, glomerular basement membrane normally acts like filters, allowing fluid to move from blood vessels to urine while retaining proteins and red blood cells within the bloodstream. The injured basement membrane could cause leakage of small amounts of blood or protein in the urine. If a renal biopsy is performed in the first few years of life, segments of the renal basement membrane may be somewhat thin, but the characteristic unraveled appearance of basement membrane collagen may not be evident until several years later. As time goes by, the basement membrane becomes progressively thickened or fibrosis with progressive loss of kidney functions.
Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine in people with Alport Syndrome suggests that renal damage has worsened. The kidneys are filters of the body. When creatinine, BUN and other wastes accumulate in the body, they will be carried through bloodstream to damage varying systems, such as gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, endocrine system, etc.
The kidneys can compensate for mild loss of renal functions so creatinine level doesn’t rise obviously in earlier stages of Alport Syndrome; kidney function has halved when your creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels increase. Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment for nourishing blood and supplementing nutrients to the kidneys would help to protect the kidneys and improve injured renal cells, thus helpful for lowering elevated creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and preventing further deterioration of kidney condition. In addition, the patients also need to restrict the intake of creatinine supplements, avoid strenuous exercise and well protect themselves from infections to improve their illness condition.