Glomerular diseases are a well-recognized cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. These disorders are frequently associated with significant morbidity and mortality, which result from either organ damage from the disease process itself or toxicities of therapeutic agents.
Glomerular disease mechanisms are not well understood and the data on treatment are frequently lacking. Patients with glomerular diseases require highly specialized care given the complexity associated with diagnosis and management.
The mission of the Glomerular Diseases Clinic at Washington University is to improve patient outcomes through comprehensive patient care, state-of-the-art treatments, education, and research.
GLOMERULAR DISEASES WE EVALUATE AND TREAT INCLUDE:
- Minimal change disease
- Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
- Membranous nephropathy
- C1q nephropathy
- Lupus nephritis
- IgA nephropathy
- Fibrillary glomerulonephritis/immunotactoid glomerulopathy
- Complement-mediated diseases (C3 glomerulopathy, atypical HUS)
- Vasculitis: ANCA-associated vasculitis, anti-GBM (Goodpasture) disease, cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, IgA vasculitis
- Paraprotein-related glomerular disorders (amyloidosis, myeloma kidney, light chain deposition disease, monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance)
- Alport syndrome/hereditary nephritis
- Fabry disease
- Sickle cell nephropathy
Collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy
Patients are evaluated in a timely manner and a treatment plan is coordinated with the referral physician.
Renal biopsies are performed onsite, processed using state-of-the-art technology, and evaluated by an expert renal pathologist. Pathology results are communicated to the nephrologist within 24 hours.
Genetic testing for a number of glomerular diseases is available through the Genomics and Pathology Services at Washington University. These include the nephrotic syndrome panel, complement-mediated renal disease panel, and Alport syndrome panel. See here for more information on genetic tests.
We offer both in-person and virtual appointments.
MEET THE TEAM:
NEPHROLOGISTS:
Tingting Li, MD, MSCI, FASN
- Director, Glomerular Diseases Clinic
- Professor of Medicine
- Interests: Lupus nephritis, ANCA-associated vasculitis, IgA nephropathy, amyloidosis, MGRS, minimal change disease, membranous nephropathy, FSGS, MGRS, Alport syndrome
Ying Chen, MD, PhD
- Associate Professor of Medicine
- Director of Nephrotic Syndrome Clinic [link to Maggie’s nephrotic syndrome clinic]
- Interests: FSGS, membranous nephropathy, minimal change disease, Alport syndrome, and Fabry disease
Anuja Java, MD
- Assistant Professor of Medicine
- Director of Kidney Transplant, John Cochran VA Medical Center
- Interests: Complement-mediated diseases, kidney transplantation, recurrent glomerular disease after kidney transplant, chronic kidney disease
NEPHRO-PATHOLOGISTS:
Joseph P. Gaut, MD, PhD
Professor, Pathology & Immunology
Division Chief, Anatomic and Molecular Pathology
Nidia Messias, MD
Associate Professor, Pathology & Immunology
Parker Wilson, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pathology & Immunology
MULTIDISCIPLINARY CLINICS
Our center offers an interdisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a number of glomerular diseases.
Washington University Lupus Center: Nephrology (Dr. Tingting Li), Rheumatology, Dermatology
Washington University Amyloid Center of Excellence: Nephrology (Dr. Tingting Li), Cardiology, Hematology/Oncology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Pathology
Vasculitis Clinic: Nephrology (Dr. Tingting Li), Rheumatology
RESEARCH
Clinical trials
In addition to comprehensive patient care, clinical trials under way at Washington University are focused on the identification and evaluation of safer and more effective therapies for lupus nephritis, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, IgA nephropathy, amyloidosis, complement-mediated diseases, and ANCA-associated vasculitis. Patients are able to participate in these clinical trials while remaining under the care of their own nephrologist.
Washington University Glomerular Disease Registry
This project aims to maintain a glomerular disease database to facilitate conduct of research in glomerular diseases. Our studies focus on natural history of disease, risk factors associated with development and progression of disease, phenotype and pathology characterization of various glomerular diseases and their association with kidney and patient outcomes, correlation between certain biomarkers with disease activity, treatment patterns/response rates, and side effects/complications of various therapies.
For information on glomerular disease clinical trials, please contact:
Tingting Li, MD
Professor of Medicine
Phone: 314-362-9096
Email: tingli@wustl.edu