Etiology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of renal disease

Hereditary, familial, genetic, developmental, toxic, metabolic, hematologic, infectious, and immunologic factors play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of renal disease. These factors may interact in the pathogenic events involved in the development and progression of diseases of the kidney. A complete discussion of all of the etiologic factors involved in renal disease is not within the scope of this chapter. This article discusses glomerular and tubulointerstitial disease in which immunologic mechanisms play a primary or secondary role in the pathogenesis. The interrelationships among hereditary, familial, genetic, toxic, infectious, and immunologic factors in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated glomerular and tubulointerstitial diseases are described. The basic immunologic mechanisms in renal disease, as well as the etiologic agents and the factors in the pathogenesis of renal parenchymal diseases in man, with particular reference to new developments in the field, are described.