BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuBartter syndromePotassium wasting; Salt-wasting nephropathyBartter syndrome is a group of rare conditions that affect the kidneys. Causes There are five gene defects known to be associated with Bartter syndrome. The condition is present at birth (congenital).The condition is caused by a defect in the kidneys' ability to reabsorb sodium. People affected by Bartter syndrome lose too much sodium through the urine. This causes a rise in the level of the hormone aldosterone, and makes the kidneys remove too much potassium from the body. This is known as potassium wasting.The condition also results in an abnormal acid balance in the blood called hypokalemic alkalosis, which causes too much calcium in the urine. Symptoms This disease usually occurs in childhood. Symptoms include:Constipation ConstipationConstipation in infants and children means they have hard stools or have problems passing stools. A child may have pain while passing stools or may ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rate of weight gain is much lower than that of other children of similar age and sex (growth failure) Growth failureFailure to thrive refers to children whose current weight or rate of weight gain is much lower than that of other children of similar age and sex....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Needing to urinate more often than usual (urinary frequency) Urinary frequencyFrequent urination means needing to urinate more often than usual. Urgent urination is a sudden, strong need to urinate. This causes a discomfort i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood pressure Kidney stones Muscle cramping and weakness Exams and Tests Bartter syndrome is usually suspected when a blood test finds a low level of potassium in the blood. Unlike other forms of kidney disease, this condition does not cause high blood pressure. There is a tendency toward low blood pressure. Laboratory tests may show:Low level of potassium in the bloodLow blood potassium level is a condition in which the amount of potassium in the blood is lower than normal. The medical name of this condition is h...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High levels of potassium, calcium, and chloride in the urine PotassiumThe potassium urine test measures the amount of potassium in the urine.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chloride in the urineThe urine chloride test measures the amount of chloride in the urine.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High levels of the hormones, renin and aldosterone, in the blood ReninThe renin test measures the level of renin in blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood chloride Metabolic alkalosisAlkalosisAlkalosis is a condition in which the body fluids have excess base (alkali). This is the opposite of excess acid (acidosis).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article These same signs and symptoms can also occur in people who take too many diuretics (water pills) or laxatives. Urine tests can be done to rule out other causes.An ultrasound of the kidneys may be done. Treatment Bartter syndrome is treated by eating foods rich in potassium or taking potassium supplements.Many people also need salt and magnesium supplements. Medicine may be needed that blocks the kidney's ability to get rid of potassium. High doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also be used. Outlook (Prognosis) Infants who have severe growth failure may grow normally with treatment. Over time, some people with the condition will develop kidney failure.Kidney failureChronic kidney disease is the slow loss of kidney function over time. The main job of the kidneys is to remove wastes and excess water from the body...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if your child is:Having muscle cramps Not growing well Urinating frequentlyOpen ReferencesReferencesDixon BP. Inherited tubular transport abnormalities: Bartter syndrome. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 549.Guay-Woodford LM. Hereditary nephropathies and developmental abnormalities of the urinary tract. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 119.Mount DB. Disorders of potassium balance. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 17.AllVideoImagesTogAldosterone level test - illustration Aldosterone is a hormone released by the adrenal glands. It is part of the complex mechanism used by the body to regulate blood pressure by reabsorbing water in the kidneys.Aldosterone level testillustrationAldosterone level test - illustration Aldosterone is a hormone released by the adrenal glands. It is part of the complex mechanism used by the body to regulate blood pressure by reabsorbing water in the kidneys.Aldosterone level testillustration Tests for Bartter syndrome Aldosterone blood testRelated Information Alkalosis(Condition)Aldosterone blood test(Medical Test) Review Date: 10/31/2021 Reviewed By: Walead Latif, MD, Nephrologist and Clinical Associate Professor, Rutgers Medical School, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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Bartter syndromePotassium wasting; Salt-wasting nephropathyBartter syndrome is a group of rare conditions that affect the kidneys. Causes There are five gene defects known to be associated with Bartter syndrome. The condition is present at birth (congenital).The condition is caused by a defect in the kidneys' ability to reabsorb sodium. People affected by Bartter syndrome lose too much sodium through the urine. This causes a rise in the level of the hormone aldosterone, and makes the kidneys remove too much potassium from the body. This is known as potassium wasting.The condition also results in an abnormal acid balance in the blood called hypokalemic alkalosis, which causes too much calcium in the urine. Symptoms This disease usually occurs in childhood. Symptoms include:Constipation ConstipationConstipation in infants and children means they have hard stools or have problems passing stools. A child may have pain while passing stools or may ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rate of weight gain is much lower than that of other children of similar age and sex (growth failure) Growth failureFailure to thrive refers to children whose current weight or rate of weight gain is much lower than that of other children of similar age and sex....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Needing to urinate more often than usual (urinary frequency) Urinary frequencyFrequent urination means needing to urinate more often than usual. Urgent urination is a sudden, strong need to urinate. This causes a discomfort i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood pressure Kidney stones Muscle cramping and weakness Exams and Tests Bartter syndrome is usually suspected when a blood test finds a low level of potassium in the blood. Unlike other forms of kidney disease, this condition does not cause high blood pressure. There is a tendency toward low blood pressure. Laboratory tests may show:Low level of potassium in the bloodLow blood potassium level is a condition in which the amount of potassium in the blood is lower than normal. The medical name of this condition is h...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High levels of potassium, calcium, and chloride in the urine PotassiumThe potassium urine test measures the amount of potassium in the urine.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chloride in the urineThe urine chloride test measures the amount of chloride in the urine.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High levels of the hormones, renin and aldosterone, in the blood ReninThe renin test measures the level of renin in blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood chloride Metabolic alkalosisAlkalosisAlkalosis is a condition in which the body fluids have excess base (alkali). This is the opposite of excess acid (acidosis).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article These same signs and symptoms can also occur in people who take too many diuretics (water pills) or laxatives. Urine tests can be done to rule out other causes.An ultrasound of the kidneys may be done. Treatment Bartter syndrome is treated by eating foods rich in potassium or taking potassium supplements.Many people also need salt and magnesium supplements. Medicine may be needed that blocks the kidney's ability to get rid of potassium. High doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also be used. Outlook (Prognosis) Infants who have severe growth failure may grow normally with treatment. Over time, some people with the condition will develop kidney failure.Kidney failureChronic kidney disease is the slow loss of kidney function over time. The main job of the kidneys is to remove wastes and excess water from the body...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if your child is:Having muscle cramps Not growing well Urinating frequentlyOpen ReferencesReferencesDixon BP. Inherited tubular transport abnormalities: Bartter syndrome. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 549.Guay-Woodford LM. Hereditary nephropathies and developmental abnormalities of the urinary tract. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 119.Mount DB. Disorders of potassium balance. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 17.