Inherited disorders of the kidney are becoming important, not only in pediatric nephrological practice, but also in adult nephrology, repres enting a high proportion of patients with end-stage renal failure. In almost 50% of all children and in 15% of adults accepted for renal rep lacement therapy, the causative disorders have a hereditary basis. Man y of these disorders are apparent at birth but may not cause renal fai lure until adolescence. Others may not appear until adult life. The co ntribution of these disorders to adult nephrological practice has so f ar been understated in most of...