Abstract
The Atlas of Renal Lesions in Proteinuric Dogs, an outcome of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Renal Pathology Initiative, is an open-access eBook that very thoroughly demonstrates the breadth of lesions that can occur in dogs with the clinical sign of protein loss in the urine. Comprehensive tissue evaluations are integrated with clinical history to help veterinary pathologists and nephrologists better understand the etiology and prognosis of renal lesions in proteinuric dogs. The authors intend to periodically update the atlas; updates will be listed as Publication Versions at the back of the book, which will be useful in confirming that readers are using the current version if saved as a pdf (streaming this 69 MB file to a home computer, such as mine, can be slow; however, saving as a pdf may exclude some interactive elements).
The atlas is based on more than 2,000 cases that were processed systematically through Diagnostic Renal Pathology Centers at Texas A&M University in the USA and at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Specialized tissue examinations included light microscopy of a panel of histochemical stains of tissue sections (H&E, PAS, Masson's trichrome, Jones' methenamine silver, Congo red), immunofluorescence to detect immunoglobulins and complement components, and transmission electron microscopy. The major categories covered in the atlas are: membranous glomerulonephropathy, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, amyloidosis, juvenile-onset chronic kidney disease (juvenile nephropathy), miscellaneous glomerular diseases, and tubular, interstitial, and vascular lesions seen with glomerular diseases.
The distinguishing histologic and clinical features of each category of lesions are described thoroughly. The signalment and clinicopathologic data are provided before each set of images is displayed. Transmission electron micrographs often have an interactive colorized version to allow the reader to verify identification of the structures in the micrograph. Differential diagnoses and key diagnostic features are given for each major disease category. Active links to published literature are given throughout the text. Various terms in the text are hot-linked to a List of Terms at the back of the book.
Figures in the atlas are of excellent quality. Color rendition of histochemical stains is accurate, and the schematic diagrams are very helpful. Descriptions of histologic findings are comprehensive and well written. Integration of clinical findings with pathologic findings is extremely useful. Illustration of the progression from early through late and advanced stages of each modality is well done. In sum, I can highly recommend this atlas to its intended audience, which is pathology trainees and board-certified pathologists and veterinary internists with an interest in nephrology and urology. This Atlas is a very useful “living” addition to the veterinary nephropathology literature.