Introduction
Authors: Giacomo Deferrari, Roberto Pontremoli
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2005)

The Third Genoa Meeting on Hypertension, Diabetes, and Renal Diseases was held in Genoa, Italy, on February 26 to 28, 2004. The Meeting was co-sponsored by the American Society of Nephrology, under the patronage of several Italian and International Societies in the renal, cardiovascular, and metabolic areas, and involved more than 300 participants. Over the past few years, the symposium has grown rapidly both in attendance and in scientific quality. Thanks to its top-level faculty, it has now become an essential meeting for clinicians and researchers in this field. In the past several years, major advances in the pathophysiology and treatment of hypertension and diabetes-related cardiovascular and renal sequelae have contributed to strengthening ties among nephrologists, cardiologists, and diabetologists. This has led to the evolution of a “cardiorenal intersection” both in clinical practice and in research. Besides the well-known longitudinal cardiorenal intersection (i.e., exceedingly high incidence of cardiovascular mortality in renal patients), new epidemiologic evidence points to a cross-sectional and even more alarming issue: The rising prevalence of mild renal dysfunction in the general population, especially among hypertensive, diabetic, and obese patients, and its role as a marker of cardiovascular risk. This condition involves a large proportion of the population and therefore carries important social and financial implications that are likely to increase in the near future. A growing number of physicians feel the need to share their expertise and knowledge by participating in meetings such as this one to optimize the care of these patients, which undoubtedly mandates multidisciplinary skills. Recent epidemiologic studies, such as the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP), indicate, however, that awareness of renal and cardiovascular disease is still largely unsatisfactory, even in the Western world. Therefore, a great deal of work still needs to be done to increase the knowledge and awareness of these problems both within the medical community and among the public. The reward for accomplishing this task will be more rational and cost-effective public health interventions to prevent and treat cardiovascular and renal disease. The articles collected herein review topics such as epidemiology, pathogenesis, screening and evaluation, and several other controversial issues involved in the treatment of hypertension and diabetes-related renal and cardiovascular diseases. However, they also present up-to-date knowledge on new and rapidly expanding fields, such as the therapeutic use of stem cells. Fourteen review articles and six original ones, selected from among those presented at the meeting, have been included. This material does not aspire to provide a comprehensive, exhaustive view of these subjects. It does, however, give expert opinions, criticism, and guidelines and aims to offer insight into areas that are currently important and likely will become even more so in the future. Finally, the guest editors acknowledge the generous support of the many pharmaceutical and biomedical firms, whose contributions have made this meeting possible. Cooperation between the academic world and private funding is essential to effectively disseminate scientific advancements and for Continuing Medical Education.