Acute renal failure is undoubtedly one of the marize in one volume the recent advances on patho- most interesting and frequent syndromes observed physiology of acute renal failure, the clinical aspects by clinicians. A great number of factors may of the various forms (even those which have been acutely impair renal function, but the pathoge- disregarded in other surveys), the diagnostic tests netic mechanism by which this occurs is fre- available today in our clinical practice, the general quently unknown. Even the pathophysiology of and specific therapeutic measures and (very impor- ischaemic!toxic forms of acute renal failure re- tant, indeed), some useful suggestions for preven- mains controversial despite the huge number of tion. experimental and clinical studies. The contributors have provided clear, complete Medical management of patients with acute renal and up-to-date chapters. I am deeply grateful to failure has greatly improved in recent years, partic- them all. ularly with the use of different types of dialytic I like to express my sincere thanks to Dr. A.J.