Chronic Kidney Disease: Pathophysiology, Staging, and Emerging Therapeutic Targets

This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying chronic kidney disease (CKD), including glomerulosclerosis, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and inflammation-driven progression. It critically evaluates current staging systems and their clinical utility, while surveying emerging molecular targets and novel pharmacological strategies that promise to alter the natural history of CKD.