A year or so after Dr. Robert Popovieh arrived in Seattle in 1965 to begin working on his doctoral thesis under Dr. A.L. Babb, we had just begun work to try to prove the prediction that the peritoneum had a higher permeability to 'middle molecules' than hemodialysis membranes [I]. Several years later, when Dr. Popovieh accepted a position at the University of Texas in Austin, he decided to concentrate his research efforts in the area of peritoneal dialysis and everyone knows how successful that effort has become [2]. Indeed, because of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), long-term per itoneal dialysis after a two-decade incubation period is finally becoming an equal option to hemodialysis and transplantation in the management of chronic renal failure. For me this development represents final vindication of a twenty-year effort to help promote peritoneal dialysis, often in the face of enormaus opposition. I particularly remember a policy meeting at the NIH a few years back in which it was decided by my colleagues on the committee that long term peritoneal dialysis had no future and therefore no funds for projects in this area would be forthcoming. Based on the excellent results that Boen and later Tenckhoff had been getting in our Seattle program, I knew the committee was wrong and tried to convince them otherwise. Naturally, being the only favorable vote, I failed. I often wonder how many years this decision and others like it set back peritoneal dialysis.

The Final Report of the USA CAPO Registry summarizes eight years of observation and analysis that reflects the experiences of 485 clinical centers and over 25,000 CAPO patients. As such, it offers a wealth of information, available here for the first time to interested parties around the world. Because the National Institutes of Health was quick to see the potential of CAPO as a promising therapy for patients with end stage renal disease, the Registry project was begun soon after its introduction into clinical practice in the USA. Accordingly, the Registry offered the nephrology community in the United States a special opportunity to study this emerging new therapy in some detail, an opportunity not previously available for any other form of dialysis. As will be seen in this report, the result of this early and intensive research effort has been the development of a vast amount of clinically important information regarding the utilization, safety, and efficacy of this important dialytic 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."

Peritoneal dialysis represents an internal technique for membrane are becoming apparent. Studies of peritoneal blood purification. In this dialyzer the blood path, the dialysis increase understanding of the anatomy and phy membrane and the dialysate compartment are provided by siology of biological membranes and the factors influencing nature. The developments of chronic peritoneal catheters, the passive movement of solutes across the microcirculation and related structures. Peritoneal dialysis provides a 'win automated cycling equipment, solution preparation by reversed osmosis, manipulations of transport with drugs dow' to the visceral microcirculation in animals and hu and the experiences with continuous ambulatory peritoneal mans. dialysis and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis have Peritoneal dialysis may be useful to treat problems other increased the interest in peritoneal dialysis. Publications than renal failure. Beneficial effects in the treatment of related to peritoneal dialysis probably exceed 400 annually. dysproteinemias, psoriasis, hypothermia, and many meta Peritoneal Dialysis International (formally Peritoneal Dialy bolic problems have been reported. The intraperitoneal sis Bulletin) the official journal of the International Society administration of chemotherapeutic agents draws upon and for Peritoneal Dialysis is a journal solely devoted to contributes to our understanding of peritoneal dialysis."

Designed for daily use by professionals responsible for caring for patients with renal disease, this long-awaited primer provides a simplified, up-to-date review of peritoneal dialysis. Dealing concisely with all aspects of PD, it is written in such a style that even beginners with elementary knowledge of the subject could benefit from its use, and thus it is the perfect text for trainees or new and junior staff members. It is also an ideal text for nurses, a virtual how-to guide on PD. A book like this one, crafted specifically as a bench text and a learning tool, is hard to find. Emphasis is placed on the plentiful illustrations and tables that immediately clarify and expand upon the text. The illustrations, many in full color, are deftly drawn by one of the foremost medical artists in the world, Bernard Tardieu. Few texts can boast such a cast of distinguished authors. Ramesh Khanna, Karl Nolph, and Dimitrios Oreopoulos are among the most respected practitioners of dialysis.