Uniprot Description An autosomal recessive disease characterized by the association of renal distal tubular acidosis with sensorineural hearing loss. Distal renal tubular acidosis is characterized by reduced ability to acidify urine, variable hyperchloremic hypokalemic metabolic acidosis, nephrocalcinosis, and nephrolithiasis. It is due to functional failure of alpha-intercalated cells of the cortical collecting duct of the distal nephron, where vectorial proton transport is required for urinary acidification.