Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis is one of the most exciting areas in renal medicine. Appropriate immunosuppressive therapy can dramatically improve the prognosis in many cases, so that renal failure may be avoided. It is clear now that various immunopathological processes are involved, and that an accurate diagnosis is of value in guiding management.
This volume aims to bring together current knowledge of both the scientific and clinical aspects of RPN. Recent advances in the immunology, inflammatory mechanisms and pathology of RPGN are discussed. This is followed by consideration of the major causes of RPGN, which include Goodpasture's disease, primary systematic vasculitis and systematic lupus erythematosus. RPGN secondary to other renal and systemic diseases, and RPGN in children are also described. Finally, new approaches to treatment are reviewed. Although certain of these areas are covered in the larger textbooks on renal medicine, this volume provides a current overview of RPGN in a single volume. It should be of particular interest to nephrologists and general physicians, including those in training, but may also be of value to pathologists, immunologists, and other studying the mechanisms of renal disease.