New Insights Into Glomerulonephritis

Chinese, Asian and global perspectives Chronic kidney disease is a global major health issue that ultimately leads to end-stage renal disease, a devastating condition requiring costly renal replacement therapy. Given this background, extensive understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and exploring novel therapeutic targets will help to alleviate disease progression, improve prognosis and reduce its impact on the global economic burden. Currently, primary glomerulonephritis is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease in China and many other countries. Recently, there has been much progress with regard to pathogenesis as well as treatment of primary glomerulonephritis. Clinical data from Chinese studies have significantly contributed to the making of international guidelines and histological classifications of the disease. This book focuses on the cutting-edge knowledge and provides up-to-date information on primary glomerulonephritis. Topics covered are IgA nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Chronic kidney disease is a worldwide disease affecting up to 4% of the population. In many cases, glomerulonephritis is the underlying disease leading to kidney failure. One hallmark of glomerulonephritis is proteinuria, which may in its most severe form lead to nephrotic syndrome. In seven chapters, this book puts light on different aspects related to the pathophysiology and clinical aspects of glomerulonephritis. In addition, chapters dealing with the importance of biomarkers in patients with glomerulonephritis will be beneficial for the open-minded reader. Nevertheless, new insights in renal rehabilitation in patients with chronic kidney disease will be provided.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common form of primary glomerulonephritis worldwide and a frequent cause of kidney failure. Better understanding of the pathogenesis of IgAN and the related genetic, immunological, and cellular susceptibility factors are needed to enable the development of effective disease-specific therapy. This book brings together international experts to provide clinical and experimental studies and reviews with an emphasis on early diagnosis, prognosis, disease pathogenesis, determination of disease activity, and new strategies for treatment for IgAN.

Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) is an incurable connective tissue disease of unknown etiology. Three key processes play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis: immune dysregulation and inflammation, endothelial injury and vasculopathy, and fibrosis. Tissue fibrosis is the dominant and characteristic feature that affects the skin and visceral organs. Life expectancy of scleroderma patients has improved over recent years, mainly because of better treatment of organ involvement and complications; however, no curative disease-modifying therapies exist to date. This book aims to provide students, trainees, rheumatologists, and other specialists interested in this disease with a comprehensive overview of novel pathogenetic mechanisms, management approaches, and therapeutic targets of several major vascular and fibrotic manifestations, and is useful insight into a number of usually neglected aspects of scleroderma.

Primary glomerulonephritis is a common renal disease which may eventually lead to chronic renal failure. Treatment of glomerulonephritis is difficult. In particular the use of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs require expertise, knowledge of the drugs, and careful monitoring of the patient. Paradoxically, the treatment of glomerulonephritis has become even more complicated in the recent years, after the introduction of a number of newer immunosuppressive drugs. Extensively updated since publication of the first edition in 1997, this comprehensive yet concise guide to the treatment of even the most complex patients with primary glomerular diseases is full of practical information collected and organized in an easy-to-read manner. It encompasses the possible treatments of the different types of primary glomerulonephritis, including diseases intrinsic to the kidney of unknown or uncertain aetiology. Each of the main chapters is devoted to a single primary glomerulonephritis and follows a similar format to allow easy access of information. The book contains not only an evidence-based review of the topic, but also practical recommendations from internationally recognized experts in the field.

This Handbook serves as a convenient, state-of-the-art and comprehensive resource on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of glomerular diseases. Clinical approaches, modalities and challenges are provided, along with new developments since the publication of Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO): Glomerulonephritis. Chapters dedicated to glomerular diseases mirror the current classification schemes used by Nephrologists and Pathologists and will include definition and natural history, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, pathology, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment (algorithms when appropriate), prognosis and future prospects and current direction of research. Contributing authors consist of internationally renowned glomerulonephritis experts, renal pathologists and clinical nephrologists who are engaged in the management of glomerular diseases in clinical pediatric and internal medicine practices. Glomerulonephritis fills a considerable knowledge gap for general nephrologists, providers involved with the care of patients with glomerular diseases, and researchers. It should also be of value to medical students, interns, residents and fellows, as well as all clinicians engaged in medical education.

An algorithmic approach to interpreting renal pathology, updated in light of recent advances in understanding and new classification schemes.

The podocyte is a key cell that forms the last barrier of the kidney filtration unit. One of the most exciting developments in the field of nephrology in the last decade has been the elucidation of its biology and its role in the pathophysiology of inherited and acquired glomerular disease, termed podocytopathy. In this publication, world-renowned experts summarize the most recent findings and advances in the field: they describe the unique biological features and injury mechanisms of the podocyte, novel techniques used in their study, and diagnosis and potential therapeutic approaches to glomerular diseases. Due to its broad scope, this publication is of great value not only for clinical nephrologists and researchers, but also for students, residents, fellows, and postdocs.