This text offers medical students a case-based approach to learning the mechanisms of renal disease. Each chapter covers a disease and begins with a patient case, followed by a discussion of the pathophysiology of the disease. Issues of differential diagnosis and therapy are linked to pathophysiologic mechanisms. Short questions interspersed in the text require students to apply their knowledge, and detailed answers to the questions are given. Planned updates for 4th edition:full-color artwork and design, additional color photomicrographs of clinical conditions, additional end-of-chapter summaries, and general updates based on new medical findings. (Possible addition of online multiple-choice review Q&A - TBD.)