A practical new way to measure kidney fibrosis.

Proper histological measurement of kidney fibrosis is essentially important in both clinical pathology and basic research using animal models of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, standard histology techniques and their blind evaluation are cumbersome. Ranjit et al. applied an advanced optical microscopy technique for hassle-free, unbiased, and highly sensitive characterization of kidney fibrosis and tested it in a classic model of chronic kidney disease in mice. This commentary emphasizes the advantages and future promise of this new approach.