1. How common is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and how often is lupus nephritis present in patients with this disease? The prevalence of SLE in the United States is around 40/100,000 (0.04%); it has a peak age of onset of…
1. Define the terms diabetic nephropathy (DN) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The terms DN and DKD are used interchangeably to describe a set of characteristic clinical and pathologic findings. The main clinical findings of DKD are the presence of…
1. What is membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN)? (MPGN) is a rare form of glomerular disease that occurs in both children and adults. It is characterized by a unique histopathologic feature, namely splitting of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) with interposition of…
1. What is immunoglobulin a nephropathy (IGAN)? IgAN is a glomerular disease characterized by the deposition of type A immunoglobulin in the mesangial areas of the glomerulus. This leads to inflammation and damage to the glomerulus and the surrounding structures.…
1. What is membranous nephropathy (MN)? MN is a common immune-mediated glomerular disease that remains the leading cause of nephrotic syndrome in white adults. It is a histologic diagnosis based on the presence of immunoglobulins (Ig; usually IgG and C3)…
1. What is focal segmental glomerulosclerosis? Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a class of glomerular diseases defined by focal and segmental patterns of scar in the kidney glomeruli. This disease spectrum includes primary, genetic, and secondary diseases. Primary FSGS is…
1. What are the diagnostic criteria for nephrotic syndrome? Nephrotic syndrome is a syndrome that results from severe proteinuria. Heavy glomerular protein losses (≥3.5 g in an adult or >40 mg/m 2 per hour in a child) lead to the…
1. How can chronic kidney disease (CKD) alter the pharmacokinetic behavior of most drugs? CKD directly and indirectly affects the pharmacokinetic properties of most drugs. Alterations of drug pharmacokinetics in patients with kidney failure are based on changes in absorption,…
1. How do you recognize progressive kidney failure? Progressive kidney failure is recognized by an increasing serum creatinine over time. However, some patients may have a normal creatinine early in the course of their chronic kidney disease (CKD). Individuals with…
1. What is malnutrition? To define malnutrition, an expert panel of the International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM) has recommended the use of the term “protein-energy wasting” (PEW) to encompass states of undernutrition that could result from a…