08793 - Nephrology (AK)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with the fundamental theoretical and professional knowledge required for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the main primary and secondary kidney diseases and related syndromes, including major disorders of fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base homeostasis.

The course is designed to deliver a sound methodological and conceptual approach to nephrology, enhancing students’ knowledge base, critical thinking, and multidisciplinary approach to nephrological diseases and imbalances. Topics will include prevention, epidemiology, pathogenesis, histological and morphological characterization, clinical interpretation of laboratory tests, differential diagnosis, and pharmacological and therapeutic treatments of kidney diseases—supporting the development of clinical decision-making skills aimed at preventing potential complications.

The course will cover all key aspects of renal pathology, including chronic kidney disease in its community-based context, acute kidney injury, dialysis, and kidney transplantation.

At the end of the course, students will have acquired essential knowledge of the main nephrological disorders, including biochemical, instrumental, and clinical diagnostic tools, and basic therapeutic concepts in the four major areas of nephrology:

1. Disorders of fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance

2. Clinical and diagnostic aspects of nephrology

3. Dialysis

4. Kidney transplantation

Thanks to participation in structured clinical internships across these four areas, students will develop a solid theoretical and practical foundation for recognizing and managing kidney diseases, with the ability to evaluate symptoms, clinical signs, laboratory and instrumental findings, and prognostic aspects

Course contents

The course aims to teach the main nephrological diseases through the presentation of explanatory clinical cases, with particular attention to acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, primary and secondary glomerulonephritis, and renal replacement therapy (dialysis and transplantation).

The course also aims to highlight the relevance of nephrological disorders in various clinical settings and the central role of the nephrologist, who is increasingly called upon to manage and treat nephrological complications within other medical specialties.

The lessons will focus in particular on the following topics:

1. Signs and symptoms of kidney diseases and the main diagnostic tests useful for diagnosis

2. Acute kidney injury

3. Chronic kidney disease

4. Diabetic nephropathy and hypertensive nephropathy

5. Major primary and secondary glomerulonephritides

6. The role of the complement system and complement-mediated kidney diseases

7. Genetic kidney diseases

8. Dialysis

9. Kidney transplantation

10. Interdisciplinary interactions of the nephrologist with other specialties (e.g., onconephrology)

Readings/Bibliography

The nephrology textbook that can be used as a reference is:
Authors: Garibotto G., Pontremoli R.
Title: Manual of Nephrology
Publisher: Minerva Medica.

Teaching methods

The course includes the in-person presentation and discussion of explanatory clinical cases in the classroom. These will be followed by slides outlining the pathophysiological explanations, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, and possible differential diagnoses useful for understanding the topic.
Support materials for each lesson, consisting of slides in PDF format, will be uploaded to the virtual platform.
Additionally, reference scientific articles relevant to the topic discussed will be provided if deemed necessary. These articles will also be uploaded to the virtual platform.

Assessment methods

An oral exam will be conducted during which students will be asked to analyze a clinical case, focusing on signs and symptoms, possible differential diagnoses, and therapeutic options.
The assessment will be primarily based on the ability to interpret the presented signs and symptoms and to formulate appropriate differential diagnoses.
Finally, knowledge of the pathophysiology of the discussed conditions will also be evaluated.

Teaching tools

All the slides presented during the lessons, containing the topics covered and subject to evaluation in the exam, will be uploaded to the virtual platform.

Office hours

See the website of Giorgia Comai