*SOLIDARITY EPISODE* This month in partnership with Alport Syndrome Foundation!
Our Carrier Connections program features a different X-linked condition each month with the goal to increase awareness of X-linked conditions and how they impact the lives of women and girls. Some of these X-linked conditions are part of a larger disease umbrella with other types of inheritance patterns.
This month, we are featuring Alport syndrome. Alport syndrome is an inherited disorder caused by mutations, or changes, in the genes COL4A3, COL4A4, and COL4A5 that inhibit their ability to produce a protein called collagen IV. There are four main types of Alport syndrome characterized by their mode of inheritance; the X-linked version of this syndrome, X-linked Alport syndrome (XLAS), is the most commonly reported and brought on specifically by a defective COL4A5 gene. Other inheritance forms include autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, and digenic. Alport syndrome is most frequently associated with symptoms of progressive kidney disease as well as bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and eye abnormalities.
Today, we are bringing on Rachel. Rachel is a 24 year old with X-linked Alport syndrome who lives in Boston and is an aspiring genetic counselor. She is passionate about raising awareness for the carrier community and advocating for women’s healthcare rights. She loves to play soccer, ski, and read.
Carrier Connections is sponsored by Kyowa Kirin, Amgen, and Sanofi. For more information about our organization, check out rememberthegirls.org.
