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Nephroangiosclerosis (NAS) associated with hypertension continues to be one of the most causes of end stage renal diseases in Europe, but it is still poorly studied. The prevalence of NAS shows a large variability due to the difference among different countries regarding clinical presentations and the indication to perform renal biopsy. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence in biopsy-proven NAS patients and the association with hypertension and/or glomerulonephritis (GN). We included all patients referred for native kidney biopsy between 2003-2021 at Policlinic Umberto I of Rome. From 837 patients who underwent renal biopsy NAS was diagnosed in 80 (10.5%) patients. Serum creatinine was significantly higher in NAS [2.07 mg/dl (IQR 1.13-5.2) vs 1.1 mg/dl (IQR 0.8-2.1), p < 0.001] compared to patients without NAS. Hypertension was present in 45% of patients with NAS. Proteinuria was significantly higher in patients with mild-moderate NAS compared to patients with severe NAS [2.6 g/die (IQR 1-5) vs 1.5 g/die (IQR 0.86-2.3), p < 0.05]. We did not find any significant differences, including histological features, between NAS patients with hypertension and NAS patients without hypertension (p > 0.05). IgA nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and membranous nephropathy were the most frequent GN associated. In conclusion no specific histological features are reported in NAS with and without hypertension. More information on the phenotype, clinical presentation and markers are needed to improve histological and clinical diagnostics., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Cardiovascular disease is of continuing importance as the result of a growing burden of risk factors in both developing and developed countries and the increasing number of elderly people worldwide. The recruitment and training of a new generation of Cardiovascular Pathologists is crucial to sustaining clinical excellence and to advancing our knowledge of cardiovascular disease. These pathologists will also have a key role in undergraduate and postgraduate training. In 2005 a task force of the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology published a document on the role of Cardiovascular Pathology as subspecialty of Anatomical Pathology (Pathological Anatomy). The 2005 report emphasized the need for a core curriculum and structured learning for residents and fellows in Cardiovascular Pathology. This new consensus statement on training is the result of collaboration between Cardiovascular Pathology Societies based in Europe and North America. It includes a detailed curriculum and describes three levels of expertise that can be developed., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)