Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank Chantal Mercure for the gift of previously unpublished images presented in Figs. 21.1 and 21.2 . This work was supported by an unrestricted grant from Merck-Frosst Canada Ltd. to TLR. 1 Introduction Renin,…
Key Points Vitamin D plays an important role in health. As earlier thought, clinical manifestations of vitamin D abnormalities are not limited to skeletal health. Osteomalacia and rickets are instances of abnormalities in bone metabolism related to vitamin D insufficiency.…
Acknowledgments This work was supported in part by grants DK62713 from the National Institutes of Health (to ASD) and CeDAR (Center for vitamin D receptor Activator Research) grant (to ASD) from Massachusetts General Hospital. 1 Vitamin D Vitamin D is…
1 Normal Pregnancy 1.1 Renal Adaptation Normal pregnancy is associated with increases in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 40%–65% and renal plasma flow (RPF) of 50%–85% above nonpregnant levels during the first half of gestation. These increases are a result…
1 Introduction Approximately, 1 mEq/kg body weight of net endogenous acid is produced in adults and 2–3 mEq/kg body weight in normal children each day. In addition, ∼4500 mEq/day (180L × 25 mEq/L) bicarbonate is filtered by the glomerulus. This…
1 Introduction Disturbances in sexual function are common in patients with chronic kidney disease. Such disturbances include erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, and marked declines in the frequency of intercourse. Sexual dysfunction is multifactorial and primarily organic in origin. In addition…
The discovery of growth hormone (GH) has taken a protracted course. Li and Papkoff in California and Raben in Massachusetts first isolated GH in 1956 from the human pituitary. In 1958, Raben reported the results of the first trial to…
1 Introduction Insulin resistance can broadly be defined as an impairment or defect in the ability of insulin to produce its normal biological, physiological, or clinical effects. Despite the simplicity of this concept and the relatively ease with which it…
1 Introduction The ability to stimulate erythropoiesis with therapeutic agents has probably had the greatest impact in the field of nephrology. Ever since it was recognized that red cell production was controlled by the hormone erythropoietin (EPO), and that this…
Acknowledgments The author acknowledges and thanks Dr. Herbert Lin and Dr. Jody Babbit for an earlier version of this chapter. 1 Erythropoiesis: An Overview 1.1 Hematopoiesis The cellular and cell-derived components of the blood are generated in the process called…