Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global public health problem. In developed countries, diabetic nephropathy and hypertensive nephrosclerosis are major causes of CKD, with glomerulonephritis also accounting for a significant number of patients with CKD. Adverse outcomes of CKD include cardiovascular events in addition to end-stage kidney disease requiring renal replacement therapies. Although strict control of blood pressure via blockade of the renin-angiotensin system effectively retards the progression of CKD, there is considerable interindividual variation in terms of the response. Furthermore, although such treatment can delay the progression of disease, it cannot halt the clinical course completely. In order to improve the prognosis and quality of life of patients with CKD and reduce medical costs, it is essential to understand the pathophysiolog-ical mechanisms driving the initiation and progression of CKD in order to enable the development of novel therapeutic approaches. This special series of articles comprises five invited reviews from some of the world's leading nephrology groups and describe recent breakthroughs in this field.
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