The kidney in hepatic disease and in gout: clinical and pathologic aspects.

The role of the kidney in hepatic disease and in gout has been surveyed. Kidney involvement is more common but less severe in hepatic disease, whereas it is less common but more severe in gout. The underlying pathology of the kidney lesions in both diseases (including studies by electron microscopy and immunofluorescence) is presented, with emphasis on the role this pathologic substratum plays in the renal insufficiency. The clinical aspects, including the diagnostic approach and therapeutic management of the "hepatorenal syndrome" and "gouty kidney" are discussed, as are the prognostic implications of the natural history of these "complications" and measures aimed at their prevention.