[How to produce systematic reviews of excellent quality and to define evidence-based nephrology]

Since recent years, a number of systematic reviews have been published in the renal field. These publications will be used to develop the concept of evidence based nephrology. The design and quality of renal systematic reviews relies on technical skills and efficient trials search. The reasons for discrepancies that are sometimes reported between systematic reviews and controlled clinical trials are now better understood and may be partly explained by inadequate trial recovery and publication biases. The applicability of evidence findings is not always an easy task on patients level. The example of the low protein diet in chronic renal failure highlights such caveats. However, producing high level systematic reviews in the renal field may be of great help to clarify the use of controversial treatments and to design new studies in the renal field.