By
The Associated Press
MIAMI - A common but serious kidney ailment will keep Alonzo Mourning sidelined for the entire season, depriving the Miami Heat of their biggest star and the key to their quest for an NBA title.
Doctors said yesterday that the illness, first spotted just after Mourning helped the U.S. team to the basketball gold medal earlier this month, was focal glomerulosclerosis, which leads to kidney failure in about half the cases.
They said there were no immediate plans for a kidney transplant or dialysis.
''I feel great right now. We've pretty much got a hold on it, the whole situation right now,'' Mourning said at a news conference in which he discussed his ailment publicly for the first time. ''The main objective is to get me healthy so I can live my life normally, so I can see my babies grow up, and so I can enjoy my family.
''And, at the same time, possibly do the things that I know and love - and that's the game of basketball. But the key right now is to get me healthy.''
Pat Riley, the Heat coach who spent the offseason signing free agents and redesigning the team to complement Mourning's talents, said his star center was following the proper course.
''Alonzo Mourning will not be playing professional basketball this season, and we're totally convinced that the only thing that should be on his mind is getting healthy,'' Riley said.
The 30-year-old center made his first public appearance since Oct. 3, when he attended the team's media day. Training camp began without him the following day, and he has not practiced because of his condition, which was discovered during a routine physical two weeks ago.
Sean Elliott, who had a kidney transplant last year and is back playing for the San Antonio Spurs, has spoken with Mourning.
''There's a lot of questions that he had, basically,'' Elliott said. ''I know how he feels right now as far as fatigue-wise. When I first went to the doctor, I felt terrible. I can sympathize with him.''
Dr. Gerald Appel, of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, said the disease causes the kidneys to leak protein into a person's urine. Without treatment, filters in the kidneys eventually become scarred, cease to function and a transplant is needed.
He said the disease is widespread among blacks.
''I am very confident this is not related to HIV disease, it's not related to drug abuse, it's not related to steroids or anything Alonzo did,'' Appel said, adding that the origin of Mourning's condition is unknown.
Mourning will be placed on a six-month treatment trial. He will take medication in hope of reducing the swelling in his lower body, stopping the kidneys from leaking proteins and controlling his blood pressure and cholesterol levels. He also will follow a strict low-sodium diet.
The drugs cause side effects, Riley said, which would make strenuous exercise unsafe.
''He wants to play, but he can't,'' Riley said. ''He's not that stupid.''
But even with treatment, about 50 percent of cases develop chronic renal failure, Appel said. The kidney disease used to be the fourth-largest cause of death in the United States.
''Right now, his kidney function is good,'' Appel said. ''He is not in a situation where we're talking about dialysis or a transplant. Many of the patients, when we turn off the protein entirely with these medications, they come off the medications and lead an absolutely normal life and they can do whatever they want.
''If they're a school teacher, they go back to that. If they're a lawyer or a doctor, they go back to that. And if they're a basketball player, they go back to that.''
When asked if Mourning will need dialysis or a transplant, Appel said: ''If the levels of certain substances in his blood rose up to a certain point where we thought that would be beneficial then that would be the case.''
Dr. Victor Richards, also treating the five-time All-Star, said Mourning has not been placed on a waiting list for a kidney transplant because doctors diagnosed his condition in its early stage and they hope to keep it from worsening.
''I'm a blessed individual - I have a lot to be thankful for,'' Mourning said. ''There are a whole lot of people that are worse off than me.''
Doctors initially suspected Mourning had a viral infection, thyroid condition or merely fatigue from a busy offseason.
Beginning Aug. 23, Mourning was on the road with the Olympic team for nearly six weeks, logging more than 40,000 air miles. He went to New York, Hawaii, Japan and finally Australia, and crossed the Pacific Ocean four times, returning briefly to Miami for the birth of his second child and flying back to Sydney to help the U.S. Olympic team win a gold medal.
He was expected to lead a revamped Miami team widely considered to be the favorite to win the Eastern Conference. Without Mourning, the outlook would change drastically.
''Basketball is going to be our therapy,'' guard Eddie Jones said. ''We have to continue to go out and play basketball to try to get over this shock. Everybody has to take it up another level.''
Center Duane Causwell called Mourning the nucleus and the leader of the team.
''When you lose that, you lose a great part of the team. ... It's going to take a lot on everyone's part,'' he said.
Mourning finished third in voting for the NBA's Most Valuable Player last season, when he averaged 21.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game. He has missed only seven games the past two seasons.
''Without Zo everything changes,'' guard Tim Hardaway said. ''It's going to be like that for the whole season. Nobody's going to give us any pity. They're going to take it to us.''
