Renal disease with cataract is a rare inherited condition that affects the kidneys and the clear lens of the eye. In plain terms, renal disease with cataract can cause cloudy vision and kidney problems that may be noticed in childhood or later, depending on the person. Not everyone will have the same experience. The condition is usually lifelong, and serious kidney damage can become life threatening if it progresses to kidney failure. Treatment focuses on monitoring kidney health, managing kidney disease, and treating cataracts, often with surgery when vision is affected.
How many people live with Renal disease with cataract?
Renal disease with cataract is so rare that there is no trusted estimate of how many people live with it worldwide. The same is true in the United States, where no reliable national count has been consistently reported.
Overview
Renal disease with cataractSymptoms
Renal disease with cataract usually affects the kidneys and the eyes. Common features include clouding of the eye lens, poor vision, and signs of kidney problems such as protein in the urine or reduced kidney function. In many children, these signs appear early.
Outlook and prognosis
For many living with renal disease with cataract, outlook depends on how early kidney problems are found and treated. Vision often improves after cataract surgery, but kidney function may worsen over time and can sometimes lead to kidney failure.
Causes and risk factors
Renal disease with cataract is usually caused by an inherited genetic change, though some cases happen for the first time in a child. Family history raises the chance. Other factors mainly affect severity and complications rather than being the primary cause.
Genetic influences
Genetics are central to renal disease with cataract, which is usually inherited rather than caused by lifestyle or environment. Changes in certain genes can strongly affect risk, and genetic testing often helps confirm the diagnosis and guide family counseling.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of Renal disease with cataract usually starts with kidney problems and lens clouding seen on exam. Doctors often confirm the genetic diagnosis of Renal disease with cataract with genetic tests, eye findings, and kidney tests.
Treatment and drugs
Treatment for renal disease with cataract focuses on protecting kidney function and treating the cataracts. This may include blood pressure control, kidney monitoring, and surgery when cloudy lenses start to affect daily vision.
Symptoms
Day-to-day life may be affected by cloudy vision from cataracts and kidney problems that can lead to swelling, tiredness, or changes in urine. For many people with Renal disease with cataract, the eyes and kidneys are the main parts of the body involved. The early features of Renal disease with cataract may be easy to miss at first if vision changes build slowly or kidney disease is still mild. Features vary from person to person and can change over time.
Cataracts make the clear lens of the eye turn cloudy, so vision can look blurred, dim, or hazy. Glare from sunlight or headlights and trouble seeing fine detail are common in daily life.
Many living with Renal disease with cataract notice blurry sight, reduced sharpness, or colors that seem less bright. Reading small print, driving at night, or recognizing faces across a room can become harder.
Kidney involvement can show up as foamy urine, darker urine, or peeing less than usual, although some people notice little at first. Urine tests may find extra protein before clear day-to-day problems appear.
When the kidneys do not balance fluid well, swelling can develop around the eyes, hands, ankles, or feet. Shoes may feel tighter by evening, or the face may look puffier in the morning.
How people usually first notice Renal disease with cataract?
How renal disease with cataract is first noticed often depends on which problem shows up first: some babies or young children are found to have cloudy lenses in the eyes, while others come to medical attention because they are not growing well, seem unusually tired, or have signs of kidney trouble on routine testing. The first signs of renal disease with cataract can include a white or cloudy look to the pupils, trouble focusing on faces or objects, poor feeding, vomiting, dehydration, or blood and urine tests that suggest the kidneys are not working as they should. For many families, the diagnosis begins when an eye exam for cataracts and a kidney workup start to point to the same rare genetic condition.
Types of Renal disease with cataract
Renal disease with cataract is a rare genetic condition, and current medical sources do not describe clear, widely accepted clinical variants. In other words, the types of renal disease with cataract are not formally divided into standard subgroups the way some other inherited conditions are. Symptoms can still vary from one family to another, and even between relatives, but that variation is not usually classified into distinct disease types.
No distinct types
No distinct types of renal disease with cataract are widely recognized. Differences in kidney or eye problems may still occur, but these are not considered established clinical variants.
Can I slow down the onset of symptoms?
Probably not in a meaningful, proven way: because renal disease with cataract is usually a rare inherited condition, there is no strong evidence that lifestyle changes can delay when the kidney or eye problems first begin. Healthy steps such as keeping blood pressure in a healthy range, not smoking, and avoiding medicines or substances that can strain the kidneys may help protect overall kidney health, but they are not known to prevent this condition or stop it from starting. Regular kidney and eye checkups can still help catch changes early and treat problems sooner, which may make a real difference in day-to-day health even if it does not change the timing of onset.
What genetics can tell you about symptoms
Genetics can sometimes help explain why people with renal disease with cataract develop symptoms at different ages and why some have more kidney problems, more noticeable vision changes, or both. In families with the same underlying genetic change, doctors may see a pattern in how severe the condition tends to be, but symptoms can still vary from one person to another, even among relatives. This means genetic testing may give useful clues about likely symptoms and timing, but it usually cannot predict the exact course for any one person.
Causes and risk factors
Families often first wonder why kidney problems and cloudy lenses happen together in renal disease with cataract. The main cause is usually a gene change present from birth, either inherited from a parent or happening for the first time in the child. Having a gene change doesn’t mean you’ll definitely develop the condition. A family history can raise the chance, and the exact pattern can vary even within the same family. High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, dehydration, and some medicines do not usually cause renal disease with cataract, but they can put extra strain on the kidneys and may affect how severe it becomes.
What are the most common causes or risk factors?
Renal disease with cataract is most often caused by an inherited change in a gene that affects both the kidneys and the clear lens of the eye, so the main risk factor is a family history of the condition. In some people, the gene change can happen for the first time in that person, even if no one else in the family is known to have it. There are no well-proven lifestyle, diet, or environmental risk factors known to be a common cause of this rare disorder.
Environmental and biological risk factors
For renal disease with cataract, clear non-genetic risk factors are not well defined. Doctors often group risks into internal (biological) and external (environmental). That means the known risk factors for renal disease with cataract are less certain than they are for many common diseases.
Harmful exposures during pregnancy, such as ionizing radiation or certain medicines that can affect fetal development, may raise the chance of eye or kidney differences in general. For renal disease with cataract specifically, this link has not been clearly proven.
Some infections or health conditions during pregnancy, including poorly controlled diabetes, can disrupt early organ development when the lens of the eye and the kidneys are forming. These factors are linked to some congenital eye or kidney problems in general, but not to every case of renal disease with cataract.
The eyes and kidneys both form early in pregnancy, so problems during this window can sometimes affect both systems. Two people with the same exposure can react very differently—biology shapes the response. This is one reason researchers have a hard time identifying one single cause.
Many people with renal disease with cataract do not have an identifiable environmental or biological trigger. Plenty of people with similar exposures live without developing the condition. This uncertainty is why doctors are cautious about blaming any one exposure when the cause is unclear.
Genetic risk factors
When kidney trouble and cloudy lenses show up in the same family, it often raises questions about an inherited cause. Renal disease with cataract is usually linked to a change in a gene that is important for both kidney function and the clear lens of the eye, although the exact gene can differ from one family to another. Carrying a genetic change doesn’t guarantee the condition will appear, but it can raise the chance that the genetic causes of renal disease with cataract are passed through a family. Genetic testing can sometimes confirm the cause, though not every family gets a clear answer yet.
Gene changes: The most direct genetic cause is a change in a gene involved in kidney development, kidney filtering, or lens clarity. Different gene changes can lead to a similar pattern, which is why test results can vary from one family to another.
Family history: Having close relatives with kidney disease, cataracts, or both makes an inherited explanation more likely. Sometimes the pattern is easy to miss because one relative may have eye problems first while another mainly has kidney findings.
Dominant inheritance: In some families, one altered copy of a gene is enough to cause disease. If a parent carries that change, each child has a 1 in 2, or 50%, chance of inheriting it.
Recessive inheritance: In other families, the condition appears only when both copies of a gene are altered. Parents may be healthy carriers and not know it until a child is affected.
New variants: Sometimes renal disease with cataract happens because a gene change starts for the first time in the affected child. This can explain the condition even when no one else in the family seems to have similar problems.
Lifestyle risk factors
Lifestyle habits do not cause renal disease with cataract, but they can meaningfully influence kidney strain, eye symptoms, and the risk of complications. In practice, how lifestyle affects renal disease with cataract often comes down to protecting kidney function, supporting blood pressure and blood sugar control, and reducing added stress on the eyes. Daily choices can also affect fatigue, fluid balance, and overall treatment burden.
A high-salt diet can raise blood pressure and increase fluid retention, which may put extra stress on damaged kidneys. Lowering sodium intake may help protect kidney function and reduce swelling or worsening hypertension.
Drinking too little can worsen dehydration and increase the risk of kidney stress, while drinking far too much may be a problem if kidney function is reduced. A fluid plan matched to medical advice can help support safer kidney balance and symptom control.
Frequent sugary drinks, excess refined carbohydrates, and weight gain can make blood sugar harder to control, which can further damage the kidneys and may also affect eye health. Keeping glucose in a healthy range is one of the most important lifestyle risk factors for renal disease with cataract when diabetes or insulin resistance is present.
Regular moderate exercise can help blood pressure, glucose handling, circulation, and body weight, all of which may reduce stress on the kidneys. Safer activity choices also help lower fall risk if cataracts are impairing vision.
Risk prevention
For renal disease with cataract, there is no proven way to prevent the condition itself because it is usually linked to an inherited change present from birth. Prevention is mainly about lowering the chance of complications, protecting kidney function for as long as possible, and caring for vision early. Some prevention is universal, others are tailored to people with specific risks. Early care can make a real difference in day-to-day life, such as helping someone stay active at school or work and avoiding preventable kidney or eye problems.
If renal disease with cataract runs in your family, genetic counseling can help clarify the chance of passing it on and what testing options may be available. This can be useful for family planning and for identifying relatives who may benefit from early kidney and eye checks.
Ongoing visits with kidney and eye specialists can help catch problems before they become more serious. Monitoring may help find early symptoms of renal disease with cataract, including changes in vision, urine, blood pressure, or kidney function.
Keeping blood pressure in a healthy range can help protect the kidneys from added strain. This often includes regular checks, limiting excess salt, and taking prescribed medicines exactly as directed.
Staying well hydrated and avoiding unnecessary kidney-harming medicines, such as frequent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers, may help reduce extra damage. It is wise to ask a clinician before starting supplements or over-the-counter drugs if you have renal disease with cataract.
Can you prevent Renal disease with cataract?
No, renal disease with cataract usually cannot be prevented because it is most often linked to a gene change present from birth. If this condition runs in your family, talking with a genetics specialist before pregnancy may help you understand the chance of passing it on, but it cannot fully prevent the condition. Regular eye and kidney checkups cannot stop it from happening, but they can help find problems early and support better care.
Transmission
Renal disease with cataract is not infectious, so it cannot spread from one person to another through touch, coughing, sex, food, or water. It is a genetic condition, which means it is linked to a change in a gene rather than to an infection.
For many families, how Renal disease with cataract is inherited depends on the specific genetic cause. The gene change may be passed from a parent to a child, or it may happen for the first time in the affected child as a new mutation, so genetic counseling can help explain the likely risk for other family members or future pregnancies.
When to test your genes
Consider genetic testing if kidney disease and cataracts appear in the same person, especially in childhood, adolescence, or across several relatives. A confirmed gene result can clarify the diagnosis, guide kidney and eye monitoring, and help family members understand their own risk and reproductive options.
Diagnosis
Renal disease with cataract is often suspected when kidney problems and clouding of the eye lens show up together, especially in childhood or early adult life. In many living with renal disease with cataract, the diagnosis starts with day-to-day issues such as blurry vision, swelling, tiredness, or abnormal urine tests, then moves on to focused exams and lab work. Getting a diagnosis is often a turning point toward answers and support. Because this condition is uncommon, doctors usually confirm the diagnosis by combining clinical features with genetic tests.
Doctors ask about vision changes, kidney symptoms, growth, blood pressure, and when problems first began. A detailed family and health history can help show whether similar findings have affected relatives and whether an inherited condition is likely.
An eye specialist looks for cataracts and checks how much they affect vision. The timing and type of lens changes can support the diagnosis of renal disease with cataract when they occur alongside kidney disease.
Blood and urine tests check how well the kidneys are working and look for protein, blood, or other abnormalities in the urine. These tests help show the pattern and severity of kidney involvement, and other lab tests may help rule out common conditions.
Doctors examine the whole body for related clinical features, such as swelling, poor growth, or signs of high blood pressure. This helps place the kidney and eye findings in a broader medical picture.
How is Renal disease with cataract diagnosed?
Doctors usually diagnose renal disease with cataract by looking at the full picture: a detailed eye exam to find cataracts, plus urine and blood tests to see how well the kidneys are working and whether protein is leaking into the urine. They may also use kidney imaging, such as an ultrasound, and ask about symptoms and family history, since the condition can run in families. A genetic test may help confirm the diagnosis, but it is usually used alongside the eye and kidney checks rather than on its own.
Stages of Renal disease with cataract
Renal disease with cataract does not have defined progression stages. That is because it is usually recognized by the combination of kidney problems and cataracts, rather than by a clear step-by-step pattern that everyone moves through over time. Doctors usually start with a conversation about vision changes, kidney-related symptoms, and family history, then use eye exams, urine and blood tests, and kidney imaging to look for the cause. Because the early symptoms of renal disease with cataract can vary from one person to another, follow-up usually focuses on monitoring sight, kidney function, blood pressure, and sometimes genetic testing.
Outlook and prognosis
The outlook for renal disease with cataract is variable and depends mainly on how quickly kidney function declines and how well complications are managed. Cataracts can often be treated successfully with surgery, so long-term vision may be good if they are recognized early and no other eye problems are present. Prognosis is more strongly driven by the kidney disease, which may remain stable for years in some people but can progress to chronic kidney failure requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation in others. Supportive care, blood pressure control, and close follow-up with nephrology and ophthalmology can improve quality of life and help preserve kidney and visual function. Because this is a very rare genetic disorder, precise life-expectancy data are limited, but mortality is generally related to advanced renal failure and its complications rather than the cataracts themselves.
Long-term effects
For many living with renal disease with cataract, the long-term picture depends mostly on how much the kidneys and eyes are affected over time. Some people have fairly stable features for years, while others develop more noticeable kidney damage or vision loss. It’s important to remember that long-term doesn’t always mean progressive, but regular follow-up is usually needed because kidney and eye changes can unfold slowly.
The main long-term effect is ongoing kidney damage, which can range from mild loss of function to chronic kidney disease. Over time, some people develop worsening waste buildup, fluid balance problems, or kidney failure that may require dialysis or a transplant.
Cataracts can blur vision and make reading, schoolwork, driving, or seeing in dim light harder over the years. If cataracts are dense or appear early in life, vision development may also be affected, especially in childhood.
Reduced kidney function can raise the risk of high blood pressure, which may add strain on the heart and kidneys. This can become a long-term health issue even when the early symptoms of renal disease with cataract seem mild.
When kidney disease begins in childhood, some may have slower growth or delayed physical development over time. These effects are more likely if kidney function is significantly reduced for many years.
How is it to live with Renal disease with cataract?
Living with renal disease with cataract often means managing two very practical challenges at once: changes in vision that can make reading, school, work, driving, or moving around safely harder, and kidney problems that may bring fatigue, swelling, blood pressure issues, frequent medical visits, and sometimes strict medicines or diet plans. Because both the eyes and kidneys can change over time, many living with this condition need regular follow-up with eye and kidney specialists, and daily life may require extra planning, support with transportation, and adjustments at home, school, or work.
For families and other close supports, the condition can affect routines, finances, and emotional well-being, especially when appointments, treatments, or uncertainty about future kidney or vision changes become a regular part of life. Even so, with coordinated care, practical accommodations, and early attention to symptoms, many people with renal disease with cataract can build steady routines and protect as much independence and quality of life as possible.
Treatment and drugs
Treatment for renal disease with cataract focuses on the two main problems: protecting kidney function and improving vision. Many living with renal disease with cataract need regular care from both a kidney specialist and an eye specialist, and treatment may include blood pressure control, medicines to reduce strain on the kidneys, and close monitoring of blood and urine tests. If the lens clouding starts to interfere with reading, driving, or recognizing faces, cataract surgery can often help, while more advanced kidney disease may require dialysis or a kidney transplant. Treatment often looks different for each person, because the best plan depends on how much kidney damage is present, how quickly it is changing, and whether other health issues are involved.
Can you cure Renal disease with cataract?
No, there is no cure for renal disease with cataract at this time. Treatment focuses on managing the kidney problems, watching kidney function closely, and treating cataracts, often with surgery if they are affecting vision. For many people, early and regular care can help protect sight, support kidney health, and improve day-to-day life.
Non-drug treatment
Living with renal disease with cataract often affects everyday things at once, from seeing clearly enough to read labels or drive to keeping up with kidney care appointments and diet changes. Managing this condition often means combining eye care, kidney support, and regular checkups to help protect vision and slow kidney damage. Treatment is tailored to how much the kidneys and eyes are affected, and some people need more support as they get older.
Regular follow-up with a kidney specialist helps track how well the kidneys are working and can catch problems early. Blood pressure checks, urine tests, and blood tests help guide day-to-day care and decisions about next steps.
Food and fluid changes may help reduce strain on the kidneys, especially if there is swelling, high blood pressure, or worsening kidney function. A renal dietitian can help choose the right balance of salt, protein, potassium, and fluids based on test results.
When cloudy lenses start to interfere with reading, schoolwork, work, or driving, surgery can restore clearer vision. This is often the main treatment if early symptoms of renal disease with cataract include increasing blur, glare, or trouble seeing in dim light.
Glasses, brighter lighting, magnifiers, and large-print or screen-based tools can make daily tasks easier if vision is still limited. Supportive therapies can also include vision rehabilitation to help with reading, mobility, and staying independent.
Your genes may have an impact on how drugs work for you
At this time, there are no well-established genetic tests routinely used to choose medicines specifically for renal disease with cataract. Still, small inherited differences can affect how some people handle certain medicines, and the kidney problems that often come with this condition can also make drugs stay in the body longer, so doses may need to be adjusted carefully. For many living with this condition, this matters most with common treatments such as blood pressure medicine, pain relievers, or medicines used after a kidney transplant, where close follow-up and lab checks help make treatment safer.
Pharmacological treatments
Treatment for renal disease with cataract usually focuses on the kidney problems, because there is no single drug that fixes the whole condition. Medicines are chosen based on what the kidneys are losing or failing to control, such as acid, salts, blood pressure, or red blood cell production. Cataracts themselves are usually treated with surgery rather than medicine, though eye drops may be used before or after eye care. Not everyone responds to the same medication in the same way.
Sodium bicarbonate or potassium citrate may be used when the kidneys cannot keep the blood’s acid level balanced. This can help with fatigue, poor growth, and bone strain that may happen with kidney tubule problems.
Phosphate supplements and active vitamin D such as calcitriol may be prescribed if kidney losses weaken bones. In children, this can help with bone pain, bowed legs, or slowed growth linked to early symptoms of renal disease with cataract.
Potassium supplements may be needed if too much potassium is lost in the urine. Low potassium can lead to weakness, cramps, constipation, or abnormal heart rhythms, so doses need careful monitoring.
ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril or enalapril, or ARBs such as losartan, may be used if high blood pressure or protein leakage in the urine develops. Protecting blood pressure can also help reduce further kidney damage over time.
Genetic influences
Seeing kidney problems and cataracts show up together can make families wonder whether there is a shared cause. It’s natural to ask whether family history plays a role. For renal disease with cataract, genetics may be important because some rare inherited conditions can affect both the kidneys and the clear lens of the eye, although the exact cause can differ from one family to another. The inherited change may be passed down from a parent or may happen for the first time in one child, so doctors often ask about relatives with kidney disease, early cataracts, hearing loss, or other related findings. Tests that look for inherited changes can sometimes confirm the cause, which may help with diagnosis, family planning, and checking for early symptoms of renal disease with cataract in other relatives.
Is Renal disease with cataract genetic?
Genetics are central to renal disease with cataract, which is usually inherited rather than caused by lifestyle or environment. Changes in certain genes can strongly affect risk, and genetic testing often helps confirm the diagnosis and guide family counseling.
Having a genetic risk is not necessarily a diagnosis
Gene variants are a normal part of human biology and are common across the general population. Most of these variants do not directly affect health and simply make up part of natural human diversity. For many genes, having a variant connected to a condition suggests a possible link rather than a certain diagnosis, especially when several genes and environmental factors are involved. In some situations, though, one well-characterized variant in a particular gene can be enough to confirm a diagnosis.
Pharmacogenetics—how genetics influence drug effects
For families dealing with kidney problems and cataracts, a big question is whether the genetic cause changes treatment for renal disease with cataract. Alongside medical history and kidney test results, genetic testing can help show whether renal disease with cataract is part of an inherited condition, and that can shape care in practical ways. There is usually not one gene-specific drug for this condition, so treatment is often tailored to kidney function, blood pressure, protein in the urine, and the cataracts themselves. A confirmed genetic diagnosis can also help doctors avoid the wrong treatment, such as using immune-suppressing medicines when the kidney problem is inherited rather than caused by inflammation. Many living with renal disease with cataract may need dose changes or closer monitoring because reduced kidney function can make some drugs stay in the body longer and increase side effects. In that way, genetic testing for renal disease with cataract often helps doctors choose safer, more targeted treatment even when it does not point to a single special medication.
Interactions with other conditions
For many living with renal disease with cataract, everyday tasks can get harder when another health problem affects the kidneys or vision at the same time. Another important aspect is how it may link with other diseases: conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and repeated urinary tract infections can place extra stress on the kidneys, while diabetes in particular can also speed up clouding of the eye’s lens. Someone might notice that blurry vision makes it harder to read medication labels, track blood pressure, or spot early symptoms of kidney trouble such as swelling or changes in urination. Infections, dehydration, and some medicines can also worsen kidney function, so treatment for other illnesses often needs extra care. Because renal disease with cataract can vary in severity, doctors usually watch both kidney health and eye health over time and may adjust care if another condition is present.
How genes can cause diseases
Humans have more than 20,000 genes, each carrying out one or a few specific functions in the body. One gene instructs the body to digest lactose from milk, another tells the body how to build strong bones and another prevents the body's cells from beginning to multiply uncontrollably and developing into cancer. As all of these genes combined are the building instructions for our body, a defect in one of these genes can have severe health consequences.
Through decades of genetic research, we know the genetic code of any healthy/functional human gene. We have also identified that in certain positions on a gene, some individuals may have a different genetic letter from the one you have. We call these hotspots "Genetic Variations" or "Variants" in short. In many cases, studies have been able to show that having the genetic letter "G" in the position makes you healthy, but having the letter "A" in the same position disrupts the gene function and causes a disease. Genopedia allows you to view these variants in genes and summarizes all that we know from scientific research, which genetic letters (Genotype) have good or bad consequences on your health or on your traits.
What other conditions can cause similar symptoms to Renal disease with cataract?
Kidney problems together with cataracts can also happen in diabetes, Alport syndrome, and a few other rare inherited conditions that affect both the eyes and the kidneys, such as cystinosis or Lowe syndrome. Doctors also consider the possibility that a common cataract, often related to aging, is happening at the same time as a separate kidney problem, so the age when symptoms start, family history, and eye and kidney tests help sort out the cause.
History
Families and communities once noticed patterns of kidney problems appearing alongside cloudy lenses in the eyes, even if they did not have a clear name for it. For many, this could mean a child or young adult who was struggling with vision while also becoming unwell from kidney disease, with swelling, tiredness, or changes in urination that seemed harder to explain. What is now described as renal disease with cataract came to be recognized gradually, as doctors realized these two problems could occur together as part of the same condition rather than by chance.
Early medical reports usually focused on the most visible part first, often the cataracts, because blurred vision was easier to spot in day-to-day life. Over time, kidney findings became more important as testing improved and clinicians could link eye changes with protein in the urine, declining kidney function, and, in some families, progression to kidney failure. As medical science evolved, descriptions became more precise, and the condition was separated from other disorders that can also affect the kidneys and eyes.
Later research helped confirm that renal disease with cataract is a distinct inherited condition, even though the exact explanation was not understood at first. This mattered because it changed care: people living with renal disease with cataract could be followed more closely for both vision and kidney health, and relatives with mild or early signs could be recognized sooner. Knowing this history helps explain why early symptoms of renal disease with cataract can sometimes be missed at first, especially if the eye and kidney problems do not appear at the same time.
Today, the history of renal disease with cataract is still relatively limited compared with more common conditions, largely because it is uncommon and many older reports involved only a small number of families. Even so, those early observations laid the groundwork for modern diagnosis, better family counseling, and a clearer understanding that this is one condition with effects in more than one part of the body.