After the great success of the fIrst issue of the series, the International Yearbook of Nephrology 1989, we were encouraged to proceed in our editorial venture to update nephrologists yearly, on all rapidly-changing areas of nephrology. Thus we have chosen new topics and appointed experts in the fIeld, asking them to give an objective review of the topic, up-dating the readers on the world-wide literature and providing them with a complete, accurate and up-to-date list of important, recent references. We have decided to maintain the successful format of the International Yearbook of Nephrology 1989. Thus each annual issue will be devided into sections; each section will have a different primary focus every year, depending upon what area is of greatest interest at the time. In other words, the Yearbook will remain different from the numerous books which appear every year covering all aspects of nephrology. In the Yearbooks you will fInd topics usually anavailable in nephrology textbooks. In this issue we have improved the printing quality of the book, with a more uniform format throughout the volume, despite the use of camera-ready manuscripts for direct photo-offset reproduction (a procedure mandatory for a rapid publication).

Ethical Problems in Dialysis and Transplantation presents an overview of issues with which nephrologists and decision makers are confronted in their daily practice. The search for a universal system of ethics and theories of justice are addressed. Furthermore the work provides a normative ethical discussion of ways of distributing resources with a view to selection and commercialization. Others chapters discuss a philosophical and religious analysis of stopping treatment and the clinical and ethical aspects of stopping treatment in dialysis. Different views from different countries on the subject of dialysis and transplantation are covered including the views expressed by contributors from India, Africa, Japan, Great Britain and China. The work presents the clinician with a guide to the ethical considerations underlying the treatment of dialysis and renal transplantation patients.

The aim of the INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOKS OF NEPHROLOGY is to publish every year a volume to keep nephrologists up to date on all the rapidly changing areas of nephrology. Each volume will be published by the end of each calendar year which corresponds with the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology. Each issue of the INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOKS OF NEPHROLOGY will be divided into sections; each section will have different primary focus every year, depending upon what area is of greatest interest at the time. In other words, each annual volume will deal with what is truly current in nephrology. All the authors appointed for the chapters of the INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOKS OF NEPHROLOGY are known experts in the field who will give an objective review of the topic up-dating the readers on the world-wide literature. A crucial point for the success of the INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOKS OF NEPHROLOGY is the list of the references at the end of each chapter. We have asked all authors to provide a complete, accurate and up-to-date list of important references. In order to guarantee the most up-to-date yearbook, very rapid production is mandatory. Rapid publication can be obtained only with camera-ready manuscripts for direct photo-offset reproduction. Thus we have agreed to use photo-offset printing for the series. For the first issue of the series, the INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOK OF NEPHROLOGY 1989, the Editorial Board has focused attention on the latest and most important scientific and clinical advances in nephrology.

The aim of the INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOKS OF NEPHROLOGY is to publish every year a volume to keep nephrologists up to date on all the rapidly changing areas of nephrology. Each volume will be published by the end of each calendar year which corresponds with the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology. Each issue of the INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOKS OF NEPHROLOGY will be divided into sections; each section will have different primary focus every year, depending upon what area is of greatest interest at the time. In other words, each annual volume will deal with what is truly current in nephrology. All the authors appointed for the chapters of the INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOKS OF NEPHROLOGY are known experts in the field who will give an objective review of the topic up-dating the readers on the world-wide literature. A crucial point for the success of the INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOKS OF NEPHROLOGY is the list of the references at the end of each chapter. We have asked all authors to provide a complete, accurate and up-to-date list of important references. In order to guarantee the most up-to-date yearbook, very rapid production is mandatory. Rapid publication can be obtained only with camera-ready manuscripts for direct photo-offset reproduction. Thus we have agreed to use photo-offset printing for the series. For the first issue of the series, the INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOK OF NEPHROLOGY 1989, the Editorial Board has focused attention on the latest and most important scientific and clinical advances in nephrology.

Ethical Problems in Dialysis and Transplantation presents an overview of issues with which nephrologists and decision makers are confronted in their daily practice. The search for a universal system of ethics and theories of justice are addressed. Furthermore the work provides a normative ethical discussion of ways of distributing resources with a view to selection and commercialization. Others chapters discuss a philosophical and religious analysis of stopping treatment and the clinical and ethical aspects of stopping treatment in dialysis. Different views from different countries on the subject of dialysis and transplantation are covered including the views expressed by contributors from India, Africa, Japan, Great Britain and China. The work presents the clinician with a guide to the ethical considerations underlying the treatment of dialysis and renal transplantation patients.

After the great success of the fIrst issue of the series, the International Yearbook of Nephrology 1989, we were encouraged to proceed in our editorial venture to update nephrologists yearly, on all rapidly-changing areas of nephrology. Thus we have chosen new topics and appointed experts in the fIeld, asking them to give an objective review of the topic, up-dating the readers on the world-wide literature and providing them with a complete, accurate and up-to-date list of important, recent references. We have decided to maintain the successful format of the International Yearbook of Nephrology 1989. Thus each annual issue will be devided into sections; each section will have a different primary focus every year, depending upon what area is of greatest interest at the time. In other words, the Yearbook will remain different from the numerous books which appear every year covering all aspects of nephrology. In the Yearbooks you will fInd topics usually anavailable in nephrology textbooks. In this issue we have improved the printing quality of the book, with a more uniform format throughout the volume, despite the use of camera-ready manuscripts for direct photo-offset reproduction (a procedure mandatory for a rapid publication).

The leading textbook on the subject. A completely rewritten and up-to-date Fourth Edition, formerly edited by W. Drukker, F. M. Parsons and J. F. Maher.