BENIGN FAMILIAL HEMATURIA IN CHILDREN FROM THE JEWISH COMMUNITIES OF ISRAEL - CLINICAL AND GENETIC-STUDIES

Over 7 yr, 130 children were referred for prolonged isolated hematuria of unknown cause. In 34 instances, hematuria was also found in 1 or more family members. In 23 of these families (18% of all referrals for isolated hematuria), investigation and follow-up, for periods of 5 to 10 yr, of the index cases and of 56 hematuric relatives showed no evidence of renal disease and no other pathological findings. These subjects were diagnosed as having benign family hematuria. The gene for benign familial hematuria is apparently transmitted as an autosomal dominant with reduced penetrance and variable expressivity. In Israel, the disorder seems to be more frequent among Jews of non-Ashkenazi descent than among those of European ancestry (Ashkenazim).