However, the kidney malformation may be severe enough to predispose the individual to kidney disease, or a baby may be born without kidneys which would be incompatible with life. Most people with BOR do not experience any type of kidney problem. In some families with BOR there are individuals who have blocked tear ducts which interfere with the normal flow of tears and have to be opened surgically. There have also been reports of individuals with salivary tissue in their tear ducts which causes them to have tearing when they eat. The BOR gene has been mapped to chromosome 8.
Research continues to actually identify the gene.
It is hoped that eventually we will be able to determine how the gene causes the problems associated with BOR which may lead to treatment or prevention of the progression of those problems. Smith, R. J. H., et al. Localization of the gene for branchiootorenal syndrome to chromosome 8q. Kumar, S., et al. Winter of 1989.