Articles in 2016

One-third of people with diabetes develop diabetic retinopathy (DR). This PrimeView focuses on the pathophysiology of the different stages of DR, ranging from mild to severe non-proliferative DR and proliferative DR, with or without diabetic macular oedema.

Diabetic retinopathy is a common microvascular complication of diabetes and is a major cause of vision loss in middle-aged and elderly people. In this Primer, Wong et al. discuss the epidemiology, underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, classification and diagnosis and treatment options of this condition.

Acute myeloid leukaemia is a malignant disorder that leads to an expansion of immature myeloid precursors at the expense of their differentiated counterparts. This PrimeView highlights how the disease can occur at all ages, but predominantly affects the elderly (>60 years of age).

Acute myeloid leukaemia is characterized by clonal proliferation of haematopoietic stem cells or progenitor cells, leading to fewer differentiated red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells. The disease presents with a rapid onset and may be fatal in weeks or months if left untreated.

Calcific aortic stenosis (AS) results from the thickening and calcification of valve leaflets and subsequent obstruction of blood-flow across the aortic valve This PrimeView highlights the management of AS, for which the only treatment is aortic valve replacement.

Calcific aortic stenosis (AS) involves fibro-calcific remodelling of the aortic valve that causes restriction of blood flow. Pibarot and colleagues discuss the mechanisms, diagnosis and management of AS and highlight how the introduction of transcatheter-based valve replacement has transformed patient outcomes.

This PrimeView highlights the surgical interventions to treat kidney stones, which can develop when the urine becomes supersaturated with respect to a given mineral.

Kidney stones form when the urine becomes supersaturated with respect to a mineral, leading to crystal formation, growth, aggregation and retention within the kidneys. In this Primer, Khan et al. describe the contributing pathways to stone formation and the available treatments, as well as highlight the emerging management strategies.

IgA nephropathy is a common glomerulonephritis that is probably triggered by the aberrant glycosylation of IgA1, which is recognized as an autoantigen. This PrimeView highlights the plausible mechanisms underlying the disease, as well as how patients are managed.

Although IgA nephropathy is a common primary glomerulonephritis, its exact pathogenesis is not well defined. In this Primer, Lai et al. report a broad overview of the disease, from pathogenesis to therapy.

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection for satifactory sexual performance, which as a considerable impact on quality of life. This PrimeView highlights the treatment options for this condition.

Erectile dysfunction is a multidimensional but common male sexual dysfunction involving an alteration in any of the components of the erectile response. This Primer highlights numerous aspects of the condition, summarizing various treatments and ongoing preclinical studies.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) show some similarities with classic lymphomas in the general population, but occur only in immunosuppressed individuals following transplantation. This PrimeView highlights the involvement of Epstein–Barr Virus infection as an aetiological trigger in many PTLDs.

In this Primer, Dharnidharka et al. describe post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs). PTLDs are a group of lymphoma-like conditions characterized by an uncontrolled proliferation of lymphoid cells as a consequence of therapeutic immunosuppression, following solid organ or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is the consequence of failed closure of the foramen ovale, a normal structure that is present in the fetus to direct blood flow directly from the right to the left atrium, bypassing the pulmonary circulation.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is the most common congenital heart abnormality and is present in approximately ∼25% of the adult population. In this Primer, Homma et al. describe various aspects of PFOs, focusing on their potential relationship with stroke.

A single episode or repeated episodes of acute rheumatic fever can severely damage the heart valves, leading to rheumatic heart disease — a chronic condition that can cause heart failure. This PrimeView highlights that these conditions are most common in developing countries and are strongly related to socioeconomic disadvantage.

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is caused by an autoimmune response to group A streptococcal infection. Severe and/or repeated episodes of ARF can lead to rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Both conditions predominantly affect those experiencing economic disadvantage.

Cerebral palsy is a clinical description of children and adults who share features of motor dysfunction as a consequence of a non-progressive brain injury. This PrimeView focuses on the heterogeneous presentation of the movement disorder, depending on the location of the brain injury.