The most heard-of sclerotic disease is probably atherosclerosis, a condition that hardens and thickens the arteries of affected individuals. In general, the term sclerosis refers to a condition that involves hardening or scarring of any kind of tissue.
The kidney may be affected by such alterations since many glomerular diseases involve inflammation and subsequent scarring of the glomeruli, a condition called glomerulosclerosis. FSGS (Focal and Segmental Glomerulosclerosis) is a prominent example. Focal means that the scarring occurs only in some glomeruli (and not all of them), and segmental means that only parts of the affected glomerulus (not the entire glomerulus) actually show the scarring.
In many cases, early changes in podocyte morphology such as foot process effacement represent the first stage in the development of glomerulosclerosis.
Read More...
http://www.nephcure.org/Info_aboutfsgs.html
Add to the discussion