[The origins of the Renal Immunopathology Group of the Italian Society of Nephrology].

This article describes the birth and development of the Renal Immunopathology Group of the Italian Society of Nephrology. It collects the stories of nephrologists and pathologists who, since the early Seventies up to the first decade of this century, devoted their professional lives to the study of renal pathology with a strong personal involvement, characterized by enthusiasm, commitment, ability, strong spirit of cooperation, and friendship. All this enabled the Group to: propose the criteria for a standardized histological and immuno-histological examination of renal biopsies and reporting; produce several multicenter studies, whose results were also published in important international journals; to set up a national registry of renal biopsies; to organize a number of courses, some of which were associated with the publication of monographs, on various renal diseases. This article also traces the history of renal pathology in Italy from the second half of the Sixties - when young Italian nephrologists and pathologists from different institutions moved to French laboratories to learn new techniques to apply to renal biopsies - up to the present days. It also shows us how Italian renal pathology has been an essential tool for the development of the nephrological clinical practice and the advancement of scientific research.

[My life as a nephrologist with a passion for renal pathology].

This article retraces the nephrological life of Giovanni Barbiano di Belgiojoso, which started in the late 1960s. Since the beginning renal pathology was his main interest and he was among the pioneers who introduced in Italy the use of immunofluorescence technique in the examination of renal biopsies. Over the years Barbiano di Belgiojoso has carried out, often in cooperation with other nephrological groups, many clinico-pathological studies on a wide spectrum of glomerular diseases. He also played a key role in the foundation and in the activities of the "Group of Renal Immunopathology" of the Italian Society of Nephrology.

[HIV infection and associated kidney disease]. / Virus HIV e nefropatie correlate.

A wide spectrum of kidney diseases is observed in patients with HIV infection and renal involvement. After the introduction of highly active antiretroviral treatment (ART), the survival of patients has increased and the pattern of chronic kidney diseases changed. There has been a reduction in the prevalence of diseases more strictly related to HIV infection and an increase in comorbid conditions like diabetic nephropathy, nephroangiosclerosis, HCV hepatitis and drug-related tubulointerstitial nephritis, in particular related to antiretroviral drugs. Among the glomerular diseases four groups can be identified: 1) HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN), a severe collapsing glomerulosclerosis; 2) immune-complex glomerulonephritis (ICGN), including many varieties; 3) various non-HIVAN, non-ICGN glomerular diseases; 4) thrombotic microangiopathy. Moreover, acute and chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis has been found to occur. The pathogenesis of HIVAN is due to direct infection of cells, in particular podocytes, by HIV or its viral products. Genetic predisposition plays an important role in HIVAN. The treatment of HIV-related glomerulonephritis is mainly based on prolonged use of ART associated with ACE inhibitors. We have studied a series of 93 patients with HIV infection and kidney disease who underwent renal biopsy in a single nephrology center. Eighty-seven patients had glomerular diseases, among which six cases of thrombotic microangiopathy. Coinfection with HCV was present in 60% of patients with glomerulonephritis. Moreover, we observed six cases of tubulointerstitial nephritis. Dialysis and transplantation can be safely performed in uremic HIV patients without any major complications. ART is used to improve their survival.