Recent advances in renal pathology

Understanding why individuals vary in their susceptibility to renal disease is the focus of a comprehensive review of the genetic basis of renal disease by McKnight et al. [1]. The authors note that single gene disorders account for less than 15% of end stage renal disease, even though over 300 inherited disorders have been described that affect the kidneys. In addition to outlining the analytical methods in use they explain how techniques that study DNA from affected and unaffected populations in different cohorts have progressed so that more complex multigene renal pathologies can now be tackled. They are cautious about the ability of certain genetic tests to predict risk of kidney disease.