We are currently facing an alarming obesity epidemic, with its well-known health consequences such as metabolic syndrome / type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, an increased incidence of certain types of cancer, musculoskeletal disorders and pulmonary diseases. Experimental and clinical evidence accumulated in recent years now suggests that obesity has also a major effect on renal structure and function. Since the adipocyte is considered a source of many hormones and cytokines, obesity has much more direct influences on renal function besides mediating hypertension: It can by itself induce renal disease such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, but also, more commonly, bring about progression of chronic renal diseases. The present volume is the first comprehensive compilation dedicated to this important topic, featuring discussions of pathophysiological as well as clinical aspects written by the leaders in this emerging field of research. It brings together pathophysiological concepts on how obesity influences renal structure and function, reviews the epidemiology of the problem and provides therapeutic suggestions. This publication is recommended for internists, nephrologists, hypertensiologists, cardiologists, and urologists treating patients with obesity and renal diseases. Furthermore, basic scientists such as renal physiologists, renal pathologists, pharmacologists, biochemists, and epidemiologists who want a comprehensive overview of the topic will also profit from this book.
Foreword: Wolf, G.; Epidemiology; Obesity and Chronic Kidney Disease:
Kramer, H.; Obesity and Kidney Transplantation: Srinivas, T.R.;
Meier-Kriesche, H.-U.; Body Mass Index and the Risk of Chronic Renal Failure:
The Asian Experience: Iseki, K.; Obesity Paradox in Patients on Maintenance
Dialysis: Kalantar-Zadeh, K.; Kopple, J.D.; Molecular Mechanisms of
Obesity-Related Renal Disease; The Adipose Tissue as an Endocrine Organ - A
Nephrologists' Perspective: Chudek, J.; Adamczak, M.; Nieszporek, T.; Wiecek,
A.; Renal Handling of Adipokines: Kataoka, H.; Sharma, K.; Lipid Metabolism
and Renal Disease: Abrass, C.K.; Role of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone
System in the Metabolic Syndrome: Engeli, S.; Functional and Structural Renal
Changes in the Early Stages of Obesity: Thakur, V.; Morse, S.; Reisin, E.;
Leptin as a Proinflammatory Cytokine: Lord, G.M.; Adipose Tissue and
Inflammation in Chronic Kidney Disease: Axelsson, J.; Heimburger, O.;
Stenvinkel, P.; Leptin and Renal Fibrosis: Wolf, G.; Ziyadeh, F.N.; Obesity
and Renal Hemodynamics: Bosma, R.J.; Krikken, J.A.; Homan van der Heide,
J.J.; de Jong, P.E.; Navis, G.J.; Insulin Resistance and Renal Disease:
Fliser, D.; Kielstein, J.D.; Menne, J.; Therapy; Treatment of Obesity: A
Challenging Task: Sharma, A.M.; Iacobellis, G.; Weight Loss and Proteinuria:
Praga, M.; Morales, E.; Treatment of Arterial Hypertension in Obese Patients:
Wenzel, U.O.; Krebs, C.; Bariatric Surgery: Korenkov, M..
