This is a practically oriented course focusing on the tubulointerstitial and vascular diseases of the kidney. The material is designed to benefit pathologists at all levels of experience including pathology residents, general pathologists and nephropathologists. Emphasis will be placed on practical aspects regarding the diagnosis of tubulointerstitial nephropathy/nephritis and vascular diseases of the kidney. The utility of special stains, immunofluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy will be addressed.

The course will be constructed as a series of case presentations providing a framework for understanding the proper approach to these medical renal diseases. The material will encompass the toxic and ischemic types of acute tubular injury, various forms of acute and chronic interstitial nephritis, crystal nephropathy and vascular lesions including vasculitis, cholesterol embolization and thrombotic microangiopathy.

Virtual slides and still images, along with histories, will be posted on the USCAP website for review by pre-registrants prior to the meeting. A syllabus discussing salient clinical features, histological features by light microscopy, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, differential diagnosis and a comprehensive reference list will be distributed at the meeting. Course registrants will also receive web access to the PowerPoint presentations used at the USCAP Annual Meeting along with the text portion of the syllabus.

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to: 1) Recognize the characteristic pathologic features of the major causes of tubulointerstitial and vascular diseases of the kidney; 2) Understand the utility of various special stains, immunofluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy in the examination of renal biopsies; and 3) Generate a differential diagnosis for the various tubulointerstitial and vascular lesions.