Beograd Ruperto Carola University, Heidelberg
Upon a proposal, jointly made by the Universities of Beograd (Yugoslavia) and Aachen (Germany) respectively, the Joint Action Nephrology Eastern Europe (International Society of Nephrology and European Renal Association) organized in cooperation with the Serbian Society of Nephrology (president: Professor Dr. Ljubica Dukanovic) a one day course which took place in Beograd.
This was done against the dire background of recent political events, but it was the firm opinion of all participants that scientific discussion and exchange should and must not be governed by political considerations, since (to quote Sir William Osler): The republic of medicine does not know national boundaries. It is also important to emphasize that similar cooperation has been offered to the respective renal societies in this region as well.
The one day conference was attended by 110 specialists both in paediatric and adult nephrology. The lectures were given by four scientists, i.e. Jo Berden (Nijmegen, the Netherlands), Jürgen Floege (Aachen, Germany), Ulrich Kunzendorf (Erlangen, Germany) and Eberhard Ritz (Heidelberg, Germany). The topics covered were advances in glomerular diseases, new insights into pathogenesis of renal diseases and clinical issues of dialysis and organ transplantation. Professor Berden discussed the relevance of glomerular heparan sulphate for glomerular permselectivity and new concepts in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis. Professor Floege reviewed recent insights into the pathogenesis and management of IgA nephropathy and cellular mechanisms underlying progression of renal disease. Professor Kunzendorf addressed the TH-1/TH-2 paradigm as well as immunosuppression in organ transplantation and Professor Ritz discussed diabetic nephropathy and cardiovascular complications in renal failure.
The event was sponsored by Hoffmann-La Roche Company which provided well-appreciated logistic support.
There was unanimity that the conference was a full success. The audience had an astonishing level of up-to-date information and the discussions were very animated and productive.
It is hoped that such show of solidarity amongst nephrologists and scientists will make, an admittedly small, contribution to help our colleagues in this unhappy region of Europe to pursue their Hippocratian obligation to provide renal care.