{"title":"[Urinary biomarkers: A promising tool for modern nephrology].","authors":"Julie Belliere, Rayane Benyahia, Juliette Pellegrini, Joost P Schanstra, Bénédicte Buffin-Meyer","doi":"10.1684/ndt.2026.198","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1684/ndt.2026.198","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To avoid the need for renal biopsy, which remains an invasive procedure, numerous urinary biomarkers have been investigated for the detection, risk stratification, and prediction of disease progression in patients with acute or chronic kidney disease. Often referred to as a form of \"liquid biopsy,\" some of these molecular candidates, particularly proteins and peptides, have shown considerable robustness and clinical potential. This review outlines the concept of a biomarker and the key stages involved in its development, drawing on practical examples such as prognostic signatures for antenatal renal developmental abnormalities and the prediction of acute kidney injury, as well as diagnostic applications in common clinical settings, including glomerular diseases using urinary soluble CD163 and acute interstitial nephritis using CXCL9. Methods used for biomarker measurement are also discussed. Despite encouraging results, even the most advanced biomarkers have struggled to progress beyond external multicenter validation because of methodological challenges related to both the underlying technologies and the heterogeneity of patient cohorts. As of 2026, these biomarkers remain primarily research tools, and a broad consensus on their routine clinical use has yet to emerge.</p>","PeriodicalId":94153,"journal":{"name":"Nephrologie & therapeutique","volume":"22 6","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149170607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yohan El-Haik, Karim Dardim, Marie-Ange Hachet, Michel Keller, José Brasseur, Anne-Cécile Regin, Tan Phu Pham, Laurence Dubel, Agnès Caillette-Beaudoin
{"title":"Analysis of processes for the management of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and intravenous iron in 12 French dialysis organizations: The TERRA study","authors":"Yohan El-Haik, Karim Dardim, Marie-Ange Hachet, Michel Keller, José Brasseur, Anne-Cécile Regin, Tan Phu Pham, Laurence Dubel, Agnès Caillette-Beaudoin","doi":"10.1684/ndt.2026.188","DOIUrl":"10.1684/ndt.2026.188","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>We explored the organizational and environmental impacts of the management of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and intravenous iron for the treatment of chronic kidney disease-related anemia in France.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An electronic survey (March-November 2023) was completed by the head of the supplying pharmacy from 12 dialysis organizations. Eligible organizations reserved ESAs or could identify the ESA prescriptions for dialysis-dependent patients. Primary endpoints were time spent on ESA management and frequency of tasks. Secondary endpoints included the environmental impact of ESAs and the organizational impacts of IV iron management.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>ESA management required 313.9 h/month per dialysis organization, of which 285.3 h were spent on injection, preparation, administration, and post-administration monitoring. Three-quarters (74.2%) of cold storage space was dedicated to ESAs. IV iron management required 779.3 h/month per dialysis organization, of which 664 h were attributable to administration and post-infusion monitoring.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Management of ESAs and IV iron required substantial time and resources in French dialysis organizations.</p>","PeriodicalId":94153,"journal":{"name":"Nephrologie & therapeutique","volume":"22 4","pages":"226-241"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148883115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The value of immuno-histochemical analysis of renal glucocorticoid receptor expression in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome","authors":"Mouna Riguen, Hanen Chaker, Najla Dammak, Mohamed Ben Hmida, Tahya Boudawara, Ikram Agrebi, Khawla Kammoun","doi":"10.1684/ndt.2026.197","DOIUrl":"10.1684/ndt.2026.197","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The response to corticosteroid therapy in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is variable. Glucocorticoid receptors (GR), which are essential for steroid action, may partly explain this variability.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the relationship between podocyte glucocorticoid receptor expression assessed by immunohistochemistry and the response to corticosteroid therapy in INS.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This was a retrospective study conducted over a 22-year period, including 29 patients with minimal change disease or primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Podocyte GR expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and correlated with treatment response.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 18 patients were steroid-sensitive, 6 were steroid-dependent, and 5 were steroid-resistant. No conventional clinical, laboratory, or histological factor was predictive. However, GR expression was higher in steroid-sensitive than in steroid-resistant patients (p = 0.046).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Podocyte glucocorticoid receptor expression may predict the response to corticosteroid therapy in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.</p>","PeriodicalId":94153,"journal":{"name":"Nephrologie & therapeutique","volume":"22 4","pages":"250-258"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149043023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rim Bourguiba, Wafa Ammouri, Ciprian Jurcut, Elissar Dagher, Bertha-Maria Nassani, Ghalia Khellaf, Concetta Catalano, Jabber Laouni, Marion Delafosse, Lena Berchtold, Souhaibou Ndongo, Francine Katalay, Stéphanie Ducharme-Bénard, Fatma Said, Sophie Georgin-Lavialle
{"title":"AA Challenge: An interactive French-language educational program on the causes of AA amyloidosis - Analysis of 2,597 responses to 12 clinical quizzes","authors":"Rim Bourguiba, Wafa Ammouri, Ciprian Jurcut, Elissar Dagher, Bertha-Maria Nassani, Ghalia Khellaf, Concetta Catalano, Jabber Laouni, Marion Delafosse, Lena Berchtold, Souhaibou Ndongo, Francine Katalay, Stéphanie Ducharme-Bénard, Fatma Said, Sophie Georgin-Lavialle","doi":"10.1684/ndt.2026.196","DOIUrl":"10.1684/ndt.2026.196","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>AA amyloidosis (inflammatory amyloidosis) is a rare but serious complication of chronic inflammatory diseases. Its etiological spectrum is broad, potentially contributing to delayed diagnosis, particularly when the underlying cause is rare or poorly recognized. We developed the AA Challenge, an interactive French-language online educational program based on clinical cases, to improve the recognition of the causes of AA amyloidosis among French-speaking physicians.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The AA Challenge was an international, year-long educational program for French-speaking physicians. It consisted of monthly interactive clinical case quizzes, each illustrating a different cause of AA amyloidosis or a relevant differential diagnosis. Participants were asked to identify the underlying etiology based on the clinical, biological, and/or imaging data provided. The program was disseminated via email, social media, and the digital platforms of organizations involved in amyloidosis. An international steering committee comprising physicians from ten French-speaking countries contributed to the promotion of the program. Participants also received a monthly literature review on AA amyloidosis. Quiz responses, available participant characteristics, and the results of the final satisfaction survey were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twelve clinical cases were released between 2022 and 2023. A total of 2,968 responses were recorded on the Eval&Go® platform. After exclusion of duplicate submissions, 2,597 responses were included in the performance analysis. Information on medical specialty was available for 2,536 responses. Participants were primarily specialists in internal medicine (n=1,534; 59.1%), nephrology (n=470; 18.1%), and rheumatology (n=199; 7.7%). The most represented countries were Morocco (n=646; 24.9%), France (n=537; 20.7%), Romania (n=420; 16.2%), and Tunisia (n=273; 10.5%). Correct response rates varied by etiology, ranging from 29.9% for the AL amyloidosis quiz to 89.0% for the Crohn's disease quiz. The most accurately recognized etiologies were Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and spondyloarthritis, whereas AL amyloidosis, tuberculosis-associated bronchiectasis, mevalonate kinase deficiency, cryopyrin-associated autoinflammatory syndromes (CAPS), and primary hyperoxaluria were less frequently identified. The overall correct response rate was 62.1%. The monthly literature review covered 25 publications on AA amyloidosis. The final satisfaction survey received 124 responses and demonstrated a high level of overall satisfaction, with a mean score of 8.61 ± 1.36 out of 10.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The AA Challenge demonstrates the feasibility and value of an interactive French-language online educational program based on clinical cases designed to increase physicians' awareness of the diverse causes of AA amyloidosis. This initiative highlights the potential of digital educat","PeriodicalId":94153,"journal":{"name":"Nephrologie & therapeutique","volume":"22 4","pages":"242-249"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Artificial intelligence is not magic, and that is good news for nephrologists","authors":"Raphaël Bentegeac, Nans Florens, Valentin Maisons, Jean-René Larue, Antoine Lanot, Aghiles Hamroun","doi":"10.1684/ndt.2026.191","DOIUrl":"10.1684/ndt.2026.191","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly prominent role in medicine, and nephrology is no exception. Yet, behind this generic term lie very different realities depending on the type of data being processed. This didactic article offers a structured account of how AI works across three main data families, illustrated with concrete examples drawn from nephrology practice. With tabular data (the kind found in everyday medical records), predictive models can already anticipate acute kidney injury, intradialytic hypotension, or graft loss. With histological images, neural networks learn to detect and quantify glomerular lesions with remarkable precision, without replacing the pathologist. With text, large language models excel at reformulation, summarization, and triage tasks, more so than at diagnostic reasoning in ambiguous settings. The common thread across all three domains is the same: AI learns statistical regularities from data. Understanding this is the prerequisite for informed use: neither reflexive distrust nor uncritical delegation.</p>","PeriodicalId":94153,"journal":{"name":"Nephrologie & therapeutique","volume":"22 4","pages":"260-265"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148703224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Once upon a time in nephrology - Episode 4: The history of chronic hemodialysis","authors":"Charles Chazot","doi":"10.1684/ndt.2026.193","DOIUrl":"10.1684/ndt.2026.193","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94153,"journal":{"name":"Nephrologie & therapeutique","volume":"22 4","pages":"216-225"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148883108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}