Uddanam nephropathy is a

chronic kidney disease Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a type of kidney disease in which a gradual loss of kidney function occurs over a period of months to years. Initially generally no symptoms are seen, but later symptoms may include leg swelling, feeling tired, vo ...

(CKD) that is endemic in the Indian region of

Uddanam Uddanam is a region in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is spread over a some portions of the districts of Srikakulam district and covering mandals of Ichchapuram, Kanchili, Kaviti, Sompeta and Vajrapu Kotturu. The Government of India ...

in Andhra Pradesh. Nephropathy on an endemic scale was first reported in Andhra Pradesh in the 1990s. In 2015, over 34,000 cases of kidney disease were recorded in the region, and it was estimated that at least 4,500 people had died from it in the last ten years. Its cause has not been found yet, and according to the WHO, it is "the least understood and the least publicized" nephropathy of unknown origin.

Risk factors

The search for possible causes has yielded some statistically significant relations. A prevalence study published in 2020 has shown that: * Farmers had a 20% higher CKD prevalence than non-farmers, * rice farming was associated with CKD, while

coconut The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family ( Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the ...

cashew The cashew tree (''Anacardium occidentale'') is a tropical evergreen tree native to South America in the genus ''Anacardium'' that produces the cashew seed and the cashew apple accessory fruit. The tree can grow as tall as , but the dwarf cult ...

, vegetable and fruit production were not, * there was no association with using

pesticides Pesticides are substances that are meant to control pests. This includes herbicide, insecticide, nematicide, molluscicide, piscicide, avicide, rodenticide, bactericide, insect repellent, animal repellent, microbicide, fungicide, and lampric ...

or fertilizers, or cleaning pesticide-contaminated clothing, * the nephropathy was more prevalent in older people, and consumers of alcohol and chewing tobacco. Gender,

hypertension Hypertension (HTN or HT), also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms. Long-term high bl ...

and diabetes were not significantly associated with this disease.

Similar diseases

The Balkan endemic nephropathy was found to be caused by chronic intake of

aristolochic acid Aristolochic acids () are a family of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and nephrotoxic phytochemicals commonly found in the flowering plant family Aristolochiaceae (birthworts). Aristolochic acid (AA) I is the most abundant one. The family Aristolochiacea ...

, while the causes of Mesoamerican nephropathy that occurs in sugar cane cutters, Uddanam nephropathy and the Sri Lankan chronic kidney disease are still not clear despite years of research efforts. A review notes a „striking similarity“ between these diseases; they all occur in a clustered fashion among rural agricultural workers who have to carry out a lot of physical work under hot climatic conditions.

References

{{reflist Kidney diseases Ailments of unknown cause