[Renal diseases and platelet activating factor]

The platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a molecule produced by several types of cells (monocytes, platelets, polynuclears, eosinophils and endothelial cells) and by different organs (lungs, heart, kidney). Its action concerns many inflammatory phenomena such as allergy, cerebral, cardiac or renal ischemia. The discovery of specific antagonists helped us to understand the pathophysiological effects of PAF in man. As PAF is involved in the mechanism of proteinuria and many other nephropathies, the use of antagonists for the treatment of such disorders seems valuable.