ASN Glomerular Diseases – 2022 Update (On-Demand & Livestream)

Advanced Nephrology Review of Glomerular Pathology, Immunologic Kidney Disease & Modern Therapeutics

Glomerular diseases remain among the most diagnostically complex and therapeutically challenging conditions in nephrology. Over the last several years, rapid advances in molecular biology, immunology, pathology, genetics, and targeted therapeutics have significantly transformed the understanding and management of glomerular disorders. Diseases once grouped together under broad histologic patterns are now increasingly recognized as biologically distinct entities with unique pathogenic mechanisms and individualized treatment considerations.

The ASN Glomerular Diseases – 2022 Update provides a comprehensive and clinically sophisticated review of modern glomerular disease management through expert-led lectures, clinicopathologic conferences, interactive case discussions, and evidence-based therapeutic updates.

The program explores the evolving landscape of:

• IgA nephropathy
• Lupus nephritis
• FSGS
• Membranous nephropathy
• ANCA-associated vasculitis
• C3 glomerulopathy
• Dysproteinemia-related kidney disease
• APOL1-associated nephropathy
• Viral glomerular diseases
• Diabetic kidney disease

while integrating pathology, immunology, genetics, and translational research into real-world clinical decision-making.

The Rapid Evolution of Glomerular Disease Management

Few areas of nephrology have changed as dramatically as glomerular disease management.

Recent developments have included:

• Novel immunologic targets
• Precision diagnostics
• Complement pathway therapies
• Biomarker-guided treatment
• APOL1 genetics
• Updated KDIGO guidelines
• Emerging biologic therapies

At the same time, clinicians continue facing difficult questions regarding:

• Immunosuppression intensity
• Treatment duration
• Relapse prevention
• Infection risk
• Chronic toxicity
• Disease heterogeneity

The ASN update repeatedly emphasizes that successful management increasingly depends on integrating:

• Histopathology
• Serologic testing
• Clinical phenotype
• Molecular understanding
• Patient-specific risk assessment

rather than relying on histology alone.

Clinicopathologic Integration in Glomerular Disease

One of the strongest aspects of the course is its emphasis on clinicopathologic reasoning.

The live clinical pathology conferences review:

• Nephritic syndromes
• Nephrotic syndromes
• Biopsy interpretation
• Differential diagnosis
• Histologic nuance
• Therapeutic implications

In practice, glomerular disease diagnosis often requires careful integration of:

• Clinical presentation
• Urine findings
• Serologies
• Pathology patterns
• Electron microscopy
• Immunofluorescence
• Genetic testing

The course repeatedly highlights that similar biopsy appearances may arise from very different underlying mechanisms.

IgA Nephropathy & Personalized Risk Stratification

The IgA nephropathy discussions review:

• Risk stratification
• Supportive therapy optimization
• Immunosuppression controversies
• Emerging targeted therapies
• Disease progression predictors

Management of IgA nephropathy has evolved substantially in recent years, particularly as newer therapies attempt to target:

• Mucosal immunity
• Complement activation
• Proteinuria reduction
• Fibrotic progression

Clinical decision-making remains nuanced because many patients experience highly variable disease trajectories.

Lupus Nephritis & Expanding Therapeutic Options

The lupus nephritis lectures focus on:

• Contemporary induction strategies
• Combination immunotherapy
• Calcineurin inhibitors
• Biologic agents
• Long-term renal preservation

The expanding therapeutic “toolbox” in lupus nephritis has created new opportunities, but also new complexities involving:

• Treatment sequencing
• Toxicity management
• Infection risk
• Fertility considerations
• Long-term immunosuppression burden

The course emphasizes individualized treatment planning based on disease severity and patient characteristics.

ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

The vasculitis sessions examine:

• Induction therapy
• Rituximab-based approaches
• Maintenance strategies
• Relapse management
• Organ-threatening disease

ANCA-associated vasculitis remains one of the most aggressive immune-mediated kidney diseases, often requiring rapid therapeutic intervention to prevent irreversible renal injury and systemic complications.

The course explores how newer treatment paradigms aim to balance:

• Disease control
• Steroid minimization
• Long-term safety
• Relapse prevention

FSGS & Minimal Change Disease

The FSGS and minimal change disease lectures review:

• Histologic variants
• Primary versus secondary disease
• Genetic causes
• Steroid resistance
• Novel therapeutic approaches

One recurring challenge involves distinguishing adaptive FSGS from immune-mediated disease because treatment strategies differ substantially.

The discussions also address the growing role of:

• Genetic testing
• Podocyte biology
• Precision nephrology approaches

Membranous Nephropathy & Autoantibody Biology

The membranous nephropathy sessions explore:

• PLA2R-associated disease
• Autoantibody monitoring
• Risk stratification
• Rituximab therapy
• Disease remission assessment

Modern membranous nephropathy management increasingly incorporates immunologic biomarkers into:

• Diagnosis
• Monitoring
• Prognosis
• Therapeutic response evaluation

This represents a major shift away from relying solely on proteinuria trends.

Dysproteinemias & Monoclonal Gammopathy-Associated Kidney Disease

The dysproteinemia lectures address:

• Monoclonal gammopathy-related renal injury
• Plasma cell disorders
• Pathologic diagnosis
• Hematologic collaboration
• Targeted treatment strategies

These disorders often require close coordination between:

• Nephrology
• Hematology
• Renal pathology
• Oncology

because kidney injury may represent the first manifestation of an underlying clonal disease process.

Viral Glomerulopathies & COVID-19 Nephropathy

The viral nephropathy sessions compare:

• HIV-associated nephropathy
• COVID-19-related glomerular injury
• Viral immune dysregulation
• Collapsing glomerulopathy

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated interest in virus-mediated kidney injury and highlighted the complex interaction between:

• Viral infection
• Host genetics
• Immune activation
• Podocyte injury

APOL1-Associated Kidney Disease

The APOL1 lectures examine:

• Genetic risk variants
• Mechanisms of kidney injury
• Population-specific risk
• Clinical implications
• Emerging therapeutic research

APOL1-associated disease has become one of the most important developments in nephrology genetics and continues reshaping understanding of:

• FSGS
• Hypertension-associated kidney disease
• Collapsing nephropathy

Complement-Mediated Kidney Disease

The C3 glomerulopathy and atypical HUS sessions review:

• Complement dysregulation
• Alternative pathway activation
• Morphologic patterns
• Complement-targeted therapies

As complement therapeutics continue evolving, nephrologists increasingly require familiarity with highly specialized immunologic pathways.

Glomerular Disease in Special Populations

Several discussions focus on unique patient populations including:

• Pregnancy-associated glomerular disease
• Pediatric glomerular disorders
• Diabetic kidney disease
• Complex comorbid populations

Management becomes particularly nuanced in these settings due to:

• Medication safety concerns
• Developmental considerations
• Cardiovascular risk
• Long-term renal preservation goals

KDIGO 2021 & Evolving Treatment Paradigms

The KDIGO-focused sessions review:

• Updated guideline recommendations
• Shifting immunosuppression strategies
• Risk-adapted treatment
• Emerging standards of care

Importantly, the course acknowledges that guideline application often requires individualized interpretation rather than rigid protocol adherence.

Real-World Educational Value

One of the strongest aspects of the ASN update is its balance between:

• Foundational pathology
• Translational immunology
• Clinical nephrology
• Evidence-based therapeutics
• Case-based reasoning

The integration of pathology with bedside clinical management makes the material particularly valuable for practicing nephrologists and advanced trainees.

Topics Covered

• IgA nephropathy
• Lupus nephritis
• FSGS and minimal change disease
• Membranous nephropathy
• ANCA-associated vasculitis
• Dysproteinemia-related kidney disease
• APOL1-associated nephropathy
• Viral glomerulopathies
• C3 glomerulopathy and atypical HUS
• Diabetic kidney disease
• Pregnancy-related glomerular disease
• Pediatric glomerular disorders
• KDIGO 2021 treatment updates
• Clinicopathologic case conferences

Final Expert Perspective

Glomerular diseases increasingly represent one of the most rapidly advancing and intellectually sophisticated areas of nephrology. Modern management now requires integration of renal pathology, immunology, genetics, molecular diagnostics, and targeted therapeutics into highly individualized patient care strategies. As new biologic pathways and precision therapies continue emerging, clinicians must navigate increasingly complex treatment decisions while balancing efficacy, toxicity, long-term renal preservation, and patient-specific risk factors.

The ASN Glomerular Diseases – 2022 Update delivers a comprehensive and clinically relevant review of contemporary glomerular disease management through expert-led lectures, clinicopathologic conferences, and evidence-based therapeutic discussions. For nephrologists, renal pathologists, fellows, internists, and clinicians involved in complex kidney disease care, this course provides a highly valuable update on the evolving science and clinical practice of glomerular nephrology.