SOME ASPECTS OF THE HISTORY OF EARLY DIALYSIS REGISTRIES

This review of the early history of dialysis registries written 30 yea rs later addresses the ideas and personalities behind their formation, the source of funds available for the task and the subsequent course of their development. As the role of such registries is being evaluate d, a review of this nature is a timely reminder of the aspirations of those who created a unique database of value to clinicians, patients, government and the community. The challenge for today is as ever to av oid the errors of the past, to build on the successes and to practice evidence based medicine. The future role of Registries for renal failu re treatment depends on the interest and influence of the clinicans (m edical, nursing and others). To maintain the original raison d'etre of Registries such as the European Dialysis and Transplant Association ( EDTA), there must be involvement of active clinicians in the determina tion of the content of data collected, its distribution, and the inter pretation of analyses.