Samoyed hereditary glomerulopathy: serial, clinical and laboratory (urine, serum biochemistry and hematology) studies.

Human hereditary nephritis refers to familial glomerular diseases which may progress to renal failure. Samoyed hereditary glomerulopathy has been shown previously to be a model for hereditary nephritis. Clinical and laboratory studies were performed to follow progression to renal failure in 44 dogs in a family with Samoyed hereditary glomerulopathy. Affected males appeared healthy for their first three months but then became progressively wasted. Proteinuria was detected between two to three months of age; after five months, urine protein electrophoresis showed pre-albumin, albumin and alpha and beta globulin peaks. From three months onward, a reduced glomerular filtration rate was detected. Serum albumin decreased while amylase, urea, creatinine and phosphate increased from four to five months of age. Death from renal failure occurred by 15 months. Carrier females also became thinner and developed proteinuria between two and three months of age, but neither renal failure nor death ensured. Hence, SHG progressed rapidly in affected males but not in carrier females.