Cadmium Balkan nephropathy

Effects of non-occupational exposure to cadmium [51], itai-itai disease in particular [52, 53], were occasionally compared with kidney damage seen in Balkan nephropathy patients. In spite of some resembhng features, the idea of a common etiology between cadmium nephropathy (including itai-itai disease) and Balkan nephropathy was refuted [52, 54]. 

Balkan nephropathy is non-destructive and noninflammatory tubulointerstitial renal disease [69]. The changes are non-specific and in the chronic, sclerotic phase they may be quite similar to changes observed in other chronic interstitial diseases such as analgesic nephropathy [70], vascular nephrosclerosis [69] cyclosporine-induced nephropathy [71], radiation nephritis [72,73] and aging [72], intoxication with silicate, cadmium, lead, uranium [74], mycotoxin ochratoxin... 

PiscatorM, Kostial K, Plestina R. Urinary excretion of cadmium and zink among women with Balkan endemic nephropathy.Trace Elements Med. 1984 1 134-8. 

Wedeen RP. Environmental renal disease Lead, cadmium and Balkan endemic nephropathy. Kidney Int 1991 40 (suppl. 34) S4-8. 

---