The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing worldwide, and the mortality rate continues to be unacceptably high. The biomarkers currently used in clinical practice are considered relevant when there is already significant renal impairment compromising the early use of potentially successful therapeutic interventions. More sensitive and specific biomarkers to detect CKD earlier on and improve patients’ prognoses are an important unmet medical need. The aim of this review is to summarize the recent literature on new promising early CKD biomarkers of renal function, tubular lesions, endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, and on the auspicious findings from metabolomic studies in this field. Most of the studied biomarkers require further validation in large studies and in a broad range of populations in order to be implemented into routine CKD management. A panel of biomarkers, including earlier biomarkers of renal damage, seems to be a reasonable approach to be applied in clinical practice to allow earlier diagnosis and better disease characterization based on the underlying etiologic process.

Our objective was to study the influence on transplant outcome of unilateral native nephrectomy of massively enlarged kidneys at the time of renal transplantation among patients with end-stage renal disease owing to autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Patients and Methods. We studied 159 renal transplants in patients with ADPKD divided into two groups according to the need to perform a unilateral native nephrectomy owing to enlarged kidneys (Nϩ; n ϭ 143) versus those not (N0; n ϭ 16) needing this procedure. Parameters related to the donors, grafts, recipients, and operative data were correlated with short-and long-term outcomes. The groups were homogeneous in terms of recipient and donor ages, genders, HLA compatibilities, and length of pretransplant dialysis. Results. When no nephrectomy was needed surgery length was shorter (N0, 3.01 vs. Nϩ, 4.23 hours; P Ͻ .001), less intraoperative crystalloids were infused (N0, 1.84 vs. Nϩ, 2.76 L; P Ͻ .001), and less plasma (N0, 2.07 vs. Nϩ, 2.93 U; P Ͻ .05), or blood (N0, 1.05 vs. Nϩ, 1.81 U; P Ͻ .05) transfusions were required. Hospital stay was similar (N0, 12.70 vs Nϩ, 16.50 days; P not significant [NS]). There was only one urologic complication in the nephrectomy group. There were no differences (P ϭ NS) in rates of delayed graft function (N0, 19.9%; Nϩ, 12.5%), acute rejections (N0, 25.5%; N0, 33.3%), chronic allograft dysfunction (N0, 15.8%; Nϩ, 28.6%). Graft function at 1 month as well as 1 and 5 years were comparable. Patient and graft survivals were similar at 1 and 5 years. There were no differences in the causes of graft loss or patient death. Conclusion. In patients with ADPKD native nephrectomy of massively enlarged kidneys may be safely performed during the transplant procedure with no repercussions on the length of hospital stay, graft short-and long-term function and patient survival. However the procedure eads to a longer operative time and greater need for fluids and blood products.

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The mammalian (or mechanistic) target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway has a key role in the regulation of a variety of biological processes pivotal for cellular life, aging, and death. Impaired activity of mTOR complexes (mTORC1/mTORC2), particularly mTORC1 overactivation, has been implicated in a plethora of age-related disorders, including human renal diseases. Since the discovery of rapamycin (or sirolimus), more than four decades ago, advances in our understanding of how mTOR participates in renal physiological and pathological mechanisms have grown exponentially, due to both preclinical studies in animal models with genetic modification of some mTOR components as well as due to evidence coming from the clinical experience. The main clinical indication of rapamycin is as immunosuppressive therapy for the prevention of allograft rejection, namely, in renal transplantation. However, considering the central participation of mTOR in the pathogenesis of other renal disorders, the use of rapamycin and its analogs meanwhile developed (rapalogues) everolimus and temsirolimus has been viewed as a promising pharmacological strategy. This article critically reviews the use of mTOR inhibitors in renal diseases. Firstly, we briefly overview the mTOR components and signaling as well as the pharmacological armamentarium targeting the mTOR pathway currently available or in the research and development stages. Thereafter, we revisit the mTOR pathway in renal physiology to conclude with the advances, drawbacks, and challenges regarding the use of mTOR inhibitors, in a translational perspective, in four classes of renal diseases: kidney transplantation, polycystic kidney diseases, renal carcinomas, and diabetic nephropathy.

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