Iga Mesangial Nephropathy

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.

This book discusses the latest findings on the pathogenesis and treatment of IgA nephropathy. It particularly focuses on recently recognized initiation and progression factors and the varying treatment strategies in different regions, such as Asia, Europe, and the United States. More than 40 years have passed since Dr. Jean Berger first described primary IgA nephropathy (“Nephropathy with mesangial IgA-IgG deposits”) as a new disease entity. Immunohistopathologically, IgA nephropathy is characterized by the granular deposition of IgA (IgA1) and C3 in the glomerular mesangial areas with mesangial cell proliferation and the expansion of mesangial matrices. It is clear that IgA nephropathy is one of the most common types of chronic glomerulonephritis in the world. This disease may lead to end-stage kidney disease, with its enormous economic impact on healthcare everywhere. Efforts by many investigators around the world have gradually clarified various aspects of the pathogenesis and treatment of IgA nephropathy. However, there are many controversial strategies for the treatment of patients with IgA nephropathy throughout the world, as there are several limitations for treatment in each country. This volume provides nephrologists everywhere with an overview and comparison of both global and regional findings in basic and clinical fields in IgA nephropathy. It covers genetic variation, aberrant IgA1 production, and classification etiology, guidelines, and treatment goals, with all chapters written by top international researchers.

The author of this volume has studied IgA nephropathy for nearly 25 years, almost as long as primary IgA nephropathy has been recognized as a new disease. IgA nephropathy, considered to be an immune-complex-mediated glomerulonephri tis, is characterized by granular deposition of IgA (mainly IgA1) and C3 in the glomerular mesangial areas and is defined as nephropathy showing pro- liferative changes in the glomerular mesangial cells and increases in the mesangial matrices. Apart from being one of the most common types of chronic glomerulonephritis, it is also the most frequent case of end-stage renal disease. Since the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy is still obscure, specific treatment is not yet available. Previous approaches have included tonsillectomy, anticoagulants, prednisolone, immunosuppressants, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and others. During his career, the author of this book has studied many aspects of IgA nephropathy, shedding much light on the mechanism of development and progression of this disease. He also undertook new treatments for patients and developed animal models for IgA nephropathy. The purpose of the present volume is to review the authors work on pathogenesis and treatment of the disease and to provide the most up-to-date findings on this subject, constituting a valuable source of information for nephrologists, general practitioners, residents and interns.

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.

IgA nephropathy is the most common primary glomerulonephritis in developed countries. The primary defect lies in the abnormalities of the IgA molecule. The disease affects all ages, mainly in the young adults, and may recur in a transplanted kidney. This outstanding volume provides a comprehensive overview of the advances in this disease over the last ten years. It covers the genetics, epidemiology, clinicopathological features, pathogenesis, prognostic mechanisms, and treatment of this unique disease. Twenty-seven chapters are written by 43 experts from 13 countries; these experts have been providing forefront scientific findings to the scientific community for the last 20 years. The book covers all clinical, pathological and molecular aspects of IgA nephropathy. This is an essential source of reference for nephrologists, internists, pathologists, and molecular biologists. It is also suitable reading for graduate students or research scientists in the field of kidney diseases.

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

IgA nephropathy is the most common primary glomerulonephritis in developed countries. The primary defect lies in the abnormalities of the IgA molecule. The disease affects all ages, mainly in the young adults, and may recur in a transplanted kidney.This outstanding volume provides a comprehensive overview of the advances in this disease over the last ten years. It covers the genetics, epidemiology, clinicopathological features, pathogenesis, prognostic mechanisms, and treatment of this unique disease. Twenty-seven chapters are written by 43 experts from 13 countries; these experts have been providing forefront scientific findings to the scientific community for the last 20 years. The book covers all clinical, pathological and molecular aspects of IgA nephropathy. This is an essential source of reference for nephrologists, internists, pathologists, and molecular biologists. It is also suitable reading for graduate students or research scientists in the field of kidney diseases.

Genetic approaches have revolutionized our understanding of the fundamental causes of human disease by permitting the identification of specific genes in which variation causes or contributes to susceptibility to, or protection from, disease. More than 2,000 disease genes have been identified in the last 20 years, providing important new insight into the pathophysiology of diseases in every field of medicine. Genetic Diseases of the Kidney offers expert insight into the role of genetic abnormalities in the pathogenesis of abnormal kidney function and kidney disease. Genetic abnormalities are carefully presented within the appropriate physiologic context so that readers will understand not only which genes are linked to which diseases but also which pathways lead from a genetic “disturbance to the systemic appearance of disease. Lays the essential foundation of mammalian genetics principles for medical professionals with little or no background in genetics Analyzes specific renal diseases – both monogenic disorders confined to the kidney and systemic diseases with renal involvement – and explains their genetic causes World-renowned editors and authors offer expert frameworks for understanding the links between genes and complex clinical disorders (i.e., lupus, diabetes, HIV, and hypertension)