The faculty of Immunology/Serology are specialists in the study of pathology as it relates to autoimmune, paraproteinemic and viral and bacterial disorders. Various antibody and biochemical techniques can diagnose and assess the progression of these disorders. Often, their progression correlates with renal dysfunction and morphologic changes.
Education
For residents, immunology and renal pathology rotations are combined. In immunology, residents learn how to work up a patient with an autoimmune or a paraproteinemic disorder and how these systemic disorders adversely affect various target organs (e.g., the kidney). Residents also discuss electrophoresis gels and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody and anti-nuclear antibody slides with medical technicians for educational purposes before finalizing reports. The residents on rotation review various tutorials in the immunology laboratory. In addition, the residents receive four to six didactic lectures on Immunology/Renal Pathology during the two to three weeks of rotation. All the native renal biopsies are reviewed with medical students, nephrology residents and fellows and the attending staff.
Research
Northwestern Memorial Healthcare (NMHC) has one of the largest renal transplant centers in the country, with over 350 transplants performed annually. Similarly, NMHC has one of the largest myeloma clinics in the country. Several clinical trials are ongoing in both disciplines in the Division of Organ Transplantation in the Department of Surgery and in the Division of Hematology & Oncology in the Department of Medicine. In addition, our faculty contribute to clinical trials relating to lupus and other autoimmune disorders through various departments.
Patient Care
The immunology and renal biopsy services are combined at Feinberg-affiliated Northwestern Memorial Hospital, since there is a crossover between these two disciplines in terms of patient care. The renal biopsy service within Northwestern Medicine performs 800 to 900 biopsies a year, about 70 percent of which are transplant biopsies. For native kidney biopsies, we perform light (immunofluorescence) and electron microscopy. The Clinical Immunology and Renal Pathology services provide solid support for the Myeloma Clinic and Renal Transplant Center, as well as Northwestern Medicine nephrologists.
Contact Us
Yashpal S Kanwar
Professor, Pathology (Experimental Pathology), Medicine (Nephrology and Hypertension), Pathology (Renal Pathology)
Gregory S Retzinger
Professor, Pathology (Clinical Chemistry)