A two-member committee from Harvard University has found that genetic predisposition and a strong genetic founder effect could be the reason for nephropathy (kidney disease) in Uddanam.
The hypothesis is based on women who moved away from the region post marriage, after developing chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu).
The team led by Dr Joseph Bonventre from Harvard Medical School visited Borivanka village in Andhra’s Uddanam region in Srikakulam district on Saturday and met with victims of the kidney disease.
The Harvard team interacted with almost 200 patients for two hours, besides collecting water and other samples, the local media had reported earlier.
Following the visit on Sunday, the Harvard core team along with doctors from Andhra Medical College and King George Hospital addressed the medical symposium In Vizag.
Dr Joseph Bonventre, chief of renal division, Brigham Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, said, “The CCMB study revealed a high IBD (Identity-by-descent) score of AP, which shows they carry certain gene mutations responsible for diseases. I heard that people who migrated from North India to kidney disease endemic regions have not been developing CKDu. But people who are moving to other areas from Uddanam are developing CKDu. This points out at possible genetic predisposition,”
The Harvard team stressed on the importance of setting up a world class nephrology research institute in Uddanam of Srikakulam district.
Jana Sena party chief Pawan Kalyan also spoke in the meeting in which students of medical college and doctors were present and said he wants to pursue the solution to Uddanam problem.
He also felt politicisation will prolong the issue without any solution.
