Progress in Peritoneal Dialysis is based on judgement of a number of abstracts, submitted by interested people involved in various aspects of peritoneal dialysis. The book has a wide scope, ranging from in-vitro experiments, mathematical modelling, and clinical studies. The interested reader will find state of the art essays on various aspects of peritoneal dialysis relevant to expand their knowledge on this underused modality of renal replacement therapy.

Progress in Peritoneal Dialysis is based on judgement of a number of abstracts, submitted by interested people involved in various aspects of peritoneal dialysis. The book has a wide scope, ranging from in-vitro experiments, mathematical modelling, and clinical studies. The interested reader will find state of the art essays on various aspects of peritoneal dialysis relevant to expand their knowledge on this underused modality of renal replacement therapy.

Peritoneal dialysis represents an internal technique for blood purification. In this dialyzer the blood path, the membrane, and the dialysate compartment are provided by nature. The developments of chronic peritoneal catheters, auto mated cycling equipment, solution preparation by reversed osmosis, manipula tions of transport with drugs, and the experiences with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis have increased the interest in peritoneal dialysis. Publications related to peritoneal dialysis exceed 400 annually. The Peritoneal Dialysis Bulletin represents a new journal devoted to peritoneal dialysis developments. The Third International Symposium on Peri toneal Dialysis is to be held in Washington, D.C. in 1984. From this meeting it is likely that an International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis will emerge. This book is meant to provide an overview of the state of the art of peritoneal dialysis. Many clinicians are making extensive commitments to peritoneal dialysis for the first time. Nephrologists, physiologists, pharmacologists, biomedical engineers, and even physicists are involved in studies to better understand peritoneal dialysis. The complexities of peritoneal dialysis and the peritoneal membrane are becoming apparent. Studies of peritoneal dialysis increase under standing of the anatomy and physiology of biological membranes and of factors influencing the passive movement of solutes across the microcirculation and related structures. Peritoneal dialysis provides a 'window' to the visceral micro circulation in animals and humans. Peritoneal dialysis may be useful to treat problems other than renal failure.

For more than a generation haemodialysis has been the principal method of treating patients with both acute and chronic renal failure. Initially, developments and improvements in the system were highly technical and relevant to only a relatively small number of specialists in nephrology. More recently, as advances in therapy have dem onstrated the value of haemofiltration in the intensive therapy unit and haemoperfusion for certain types of poisoning, the basic principles of haemodialysis have been perceived as important in many areas of clinical practice. In this volume, the potential advantages of bicarbonate haemo dialysis are objectively assessed, the technical and clinical aspects of both haemofiltration and haemoperfusion discussed and the con tinuing problems associated with such extra corporeal circuits analysed. All the chapters have been written by recognized experts in their field. The increasing availability of highly technical facilities for appropriately selected patients should ensure that the information contained in the book is relevant not only to nephrologists but to all practising clinicians. ABOUT THE EDITOR Dr Graeme R. D. Catto is Professor in Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Aberdeen and Honorary Consultant Phy sician/Nephrologist to the Grampian Health Board. His current inter est in transplant immunology was stimulated as a Harkness Fellow at Harvard Medical School and the Peter Bent Brighton Hospital, Boston, USA. He is a member of many medical societies including the Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland, the Renal Association and the Transplantation Society.

The importance of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the therapy of chronic kidney disease has been steadily increasing. The simultaneous advancement in clinical practice and basic research has increased overall knowledge and led to significant progress in the safe and adequate application of PD. Moreover, integration with other techniques in the therapy of uremia represents an important step in the optimization of the whole program of renal replacement therapy.Leading experts in the field have contributed to this volume, discussing topics such as the biology of the peritoneal membrane, dialysis solutions, inflammation and nutrition, PD adequacy, or complications and their management or PD in special settings. This compilation updates and expands the information on PD published in previous volumes of the series 'Contributions to Nephrology'. It represents an important source of information for beginners and experts, basic scientists and clinical physicians, students and investigators who want to have a true update on current research and clinical practice in peritoneal dialysis.

The number of dialysis patients, and their ages, continues to increase globally. This creates major issues such as rising medical costs in an aging population, how to best manage end-of-life care, and how to train the various practitioners involved in dialysis care. After the US and China, Japan occupies 3rd place with regard to the number of dialysis patients and is also widely regarded as a world leader in dialysis. This book contains selected articles – organized into 4 chapters - that discuss recent advances in dialysis therapy in Japan. Chapter 1 presents insights into causes, risk factors, disease associations, and possible implications for management of dialysis patients. Chapter 2 examines recent progress in hemodialysis treatment, and chapter 3 focuses on developments in peritoneal dialysis. The final chapter concentrates on recent advances in apheresis and current trends in practice, among other topics. This book is aimed at nephrologists, physicians, urologists, nurses, clinical engineers, pharmacists, and nutritionists. It is a significant contribution to furthering the progress of dialysis therapy worldwide.