News Release:
International Conference on
Membranous Nephropathy

Bergamo, Italy (Nov. 1, 10) -- The Halpin Foundation and Mario Negri Institute announce that they are co-sponsoring The International Conference on Membranous Nephropathy (MN) in Bergamo in May, 2018. Bergamo is in the Lombardy region of Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan.

The objective of the conference is to foster collaborative scientific research, with a focus on MN. The syndrome occurs when the thin membrane of filters in the kidney becomes damaged and allows large amounts of protein to leak out from the blood into the urine. A single filter in the kidney is a "glomerulus" and many are "glomeruli." Each kidney is made up of approximately one million tiny filters. Much as a coffee filter keeps coffee grounds in, glomeruli keep valuable cells and protein in the blood.

MN is "idiopathic," which means it arises without a known cause, so researchers at Mario Negri, patient registries such as NEPTUNE and other organizations are actively trying to learn more. There are many other "secondary" causes of MN, such as cancer or the side effect of other drugs or immune diseases such as lupus, or some infections such as Hepatitis B or C.

For some people, MN sometimes goes away on its own, even without any particular treatment, but this is more likely if there is only a mild or moderate amount of protein in the urine. For some, MN may remain stable over many years, not getting better or worse. For others, MN may cause gradual loss of kidney function.

Because this syndrome has no known cause, typical treatments are limited to controlling, rather than curing MN. Nephrologists commonly recommend diuretics and low salt diet help to control edema. Renin angiotensin system controls blood pressure or lowers urine protein. If proteinuria and severe edema persist despite these measures, medications that suppress patient immune systems are considered. In addition, anticoagulants, diet, statins, exercise, vitamins and a smoke-free lifestyle are also part of a treatment regimen.

This is the second conference co-sponsored by both organizations. The first occurred in 2007, also in Bergamo, Italy.

The Halpin Foundation provides grants to researchers and sponsors events that aid in understanding and overcoming genetic conditions. To achieve the most impact with funds, Halpin prioritizes grants into two targeted goal areas: kidney disease research and autoimmune disease research.

Visit www.halpin.org/

The Mario Negri Institute has four centers and 900 staff in Italy. Since 1960, the Institute has studied and published findings on cardiovascular disease, psychiatric / neurological and cancer. In recent years, the Institute began intensive study in environment and health, kidney disease, organ transplantation, rare diseases, adapting their research to technological developments. They may be contacted by email at bergamo@marionegri.it.

Visit www.marionegri.it/ or villacamozzi.marionegri.it

Click on each image to see the photo and learn more about the Conference:

2nd International Conference on Membraneous Nephropathy
May 6-7, 2011
Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research
Clinical Research Center for Rare Disease Aldo e Cele Dacco
Villa Camozzi - 24020 Ranica (Bergamo, Italy)
Tel: +39 03545351 - Fax: +39 0354535371

Steering Commitee:
Richard J. Glassock, USA
Ariela Benigni, ITALY
William Couser, USA
Giuseppe Remuzzi, MD - ITALY
Pierre Ronco, MD, FRANCE
David Salant, MD - USA
Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Halpin - USA

Organizing Secretariat:
Francesca Di Fronzo, Manuela Passera
Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research
Centro Anna Maria Astori - Science and Technology Park
Kilometro Rosso
Via Stezzano, 87 - 24126 Bergamo, Italy
Phone: 0039-035-42131
Fax: 0039-035-319331
E-mail: francesca.difronzo@marionegri.it
manuela.passera@marionegri.it

Visit clinicalweb.marionegri.it/membranous/index.php