Podocyturia and preeclampsia

Abstract

The podocyte is a highly differentiated cell located in the basement membrane of the glomerulus. Among its multiple functions is to guarantee the integrity and functionality of the main filtration unit of the kidney, but it lacks the capacity to divide under normal conditions and in stressful situations it presents the risk of separating from the basement membrane, leading to the possibility of developing proteinuria as the first step of renal damage that may become permanent. One of these stressful situations is pregnancy and, in particular, gestational hypertensive disorders, which places the podocyte in the peculiar position of being able to be used as a diagnostic test or as a marker of long-term renal prognosis. In this review we will look at the role of the podocyte in these scenarios.