The 1992 International Yearbook of Nephrology is the 4th in a successful series of yearly books updating practising nephrologists and nephrologists-in-training on rapidly changing areas of nephrology. We were encouraged to proceed in our editorial venture by reviews of the previous issues which have appeared in various Nephrology Journals. These reviews have pointed to the successful use of the International Editorial Board, the broad range of topics of current interest which have been covered and the comprehensive and practical nature of the reviews. The principal aim of the Yearbook remains to provide reviews which are more current than those which appear in Nephrology textbooks and which can be in the hands of the readers a few months after the authors have completed the manuscripts. The appointed authors are always experts in the field, who are asked 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-ta-date list of important recent references. We have decided to maintain the successful format of the first three issues. Thus, the volume will continue to be divided into sections; each section will continue to have a different primary focus every year, depending upon what is of greatest interest at the time.

Nephrology, initially born as a small branch of medicine, has, in the last few decades, become an extraordinary large field of medicine. The recent development of renal medicine is mirrored by the numerous nephrological journals published, a natural consequence of the increasing number of basic and clinical research studies performed continuously all over the world. Undoubtedly the progress which has occurred in the different, specific fields of renal medicine has given rise to subspecialities which range from renal physiology and pathology to hemo- and peritoneal dialysis and renal transplantation. Even the diagnostic methodology in nephrology, very useful in the clinical practice, has become a speciality within the speciality. Thus, the problem for clinical nephrologists, as well as for internists, is to remain continuously up-dated in all fields of nephrology. Nephrology textbooks are published continuously and in great number. However, the time required for having authors appointed, chapters completed, manuscript edited, galley proofs corrected and the whole book printed makes many textbooks already out of date when they go on sale and their half lives are very short. On the other hand, nephrological journals are so many and the articles so numerous and detailed, that it is often impossible to rely on them for up-dating practicing clinicians.

This book includes the proceedings of the 2nd International Meeting on Cur- rent Therapy in Nephrology held in Sorrento, Italy, May 22-25, 1988. The book provides a comprehensive update on new therapeutic strategies in the broad field of Nephrology. The reader will receive information on advances in treatment of glomerulonephritis, new dialysis techniques and progress in renal transplantation. In addition, sections deal with provocative experimental ap- proaches to treating renal disease. Topics include: cyclosporine in treatment of nephrotic syndrome, plasma ex- change in ARF, treatment of beta-2 microglobulin amyloidosis, nutritional of dialytic adequacy revisited after assessment in patients on RDT, standards development of biocompatible membranes, drug interaction with cyclosporine, renal transplantation in elderly recipients, and renal transplantation with elderly donors. A special effort was made to recruit contributors among the most important scientific authorities in their respective fields: we are grateful to Drs. Cameron, Lamm, Isemberg, Meyrier, Niaudet, Brynger, Lundgren, Fauchald, Cockburn, Gotch, Kopple, Cheung and Horl for having accepted our invitation. We are also indebted to all other authors who participated in the meeting and submitted their original papers for publication. I.