Bartter's syndrome is a rare disease that affects the kidneys and causes loss of potassium, sodium, and chlorine through the urine. This disease lowers the concentration of calcium in the blood and increases the production of aldosterone and renin, hormones involved in controlling blood pressure.
The cause of Bartter's syndrome is genetic and is a disease that passes from parents to children, reaching individuals from childhood.
Bartter's syndrome has no cure, but if diagnosed early, it can be controlled through medication and mineral supplements.
Treatment of Bartter's Syndrome
The treatment of Bartter Syndrome is the use of potassium supplements or other minerals, such as magnesium or calcium, to increase the concentration of these substances in the blood, and intake of large amounts of liquids, compensating for the large loss of water through the urine.
Potassium-sparing diuretic medicines, such as spironolactone, are also used to treat the disease, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin, which should be taken until the end of growth to allow a normal development of the individual.
Patients should have urine, blood and kidney ultrasound examinations. This serves to monitor the functioning of the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract, preventing the effects of treatment on these organs.
Symptoms of Bartter Syndrome
Symptoms of Bartter's Syndrome appear early in childhood and can be:
- Malnutrition;
- Growth retardation;
- Muscle weakness;
- Mental retardation;
- Increased urine volume;
- Very thirst;
- Dehydration;
- Fever;
- Diarrhea or vomiting.
Patients with Bartter syndrome have low levels of potassium, chlorine, sodium and calcium in the blood, but do not have changes in blood pressure levels. Some individuals may have physical characteristics suggestive of the disease, such as a triangular face, a prominent forehead, large eyes and forward-facing ears.
The diagnosis of Bartter's Syndrome is made by the urologist doctor, through evaluation of the patient's symptoms and blood tests that detect irregular levels in the concentration of potassium and hormones such as aldosterone and renin.
Useful links:
- Addison: general fatigue sensation
Cushing's syndrome
