Observational, Retrospective, Multicenter, Nonprofit Study on the Prevalence of Renal Involvement in Pediatric Patients With Tuberous Sclerosis

Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is an autosomal dominant transmission neurocutaneous syndrome caused by mutations in the TSC1 (9q34) and TSC2 (16p13.3) genes. Renal involvement in tuberous sclerosis is frequent and consists of the presence of angiomyolipomas, cysts, increased risk of renal carcinoma (predominantly clear cell renal cell carcinoma), and proteinuria in the absence of angiomyolipomas or cysts, which may evolve into chronic kidney disease. Renal involvement in tuberous sclerosis is often asymptomatic, and in most cases the finding of angiomyolipomas, cysts, or changes in renal function is an occasional finding on examinations performed during follow-up. Angiomyolipomas are the most frequent form of renal involvement in tuberous sclerosis and, when symptomatic, cause potentially fatal hemorrhages (intratumoral or retroperitoneal), anemia, hypertension, hematuria, and renal failure due to subversion of the renal parenchyma.

The renal picture of TSC (hemorrhage, end-stage renal disease, and metastasis to renal carcinoma) is the second leading cause of death in pediatric TSC patients, after neurological, and the first in the adult population. Data regarding renal involvement in the pediatric population with TSC are scarce in the literature.

This study aims to assess the prevalence of renal involvement in pediatric TSC patients. More in detail, the primary aim is to assess the prevalence of angiomyolipomas and renal cysts in pediatric TSC patients. The secondary aims are to evaluate the correlation between genetic alteration and the presence of angiomyolipomas and renal cysts in TSC patients; to evaluate the renal outcome in terms of renal function and blood pressure in pediatric TSC patients with renal involvement; to evaluate the volume change of angiomyolipomas in pediatric patients with TSC on Everolimus therapy prescribed for neurological complications.