[Clinical nephrology in the European French-speaking countries from 1945 to 1960: a physiopathological tradition]

Clinical nephrology in the european french-speaking countries made great strides just after the 2nd World War. The "Société de Pathologie Rénale" was founded and assembles French, Belgian and Swiss nephrologists. The first studies were physiopathological and bore on acute uremia and the associated hydromineral disorders, nephrotic syndromes and the kidney of heart failure. The first treatments of acute renal failure including peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis were initiated. The concept of medical intensive care was elaborated and targeted on the hydromineral equilibrium. In parallel, the kidney diseases were classified, particularly the glomerular diseases including Berger's disease, owing to examination of the renal sections permitted by renal biopsy. There was a major turning point with the first renal transplantations and the first success to improve recipient tolerance to the graft. All these progress were reported and discussed at the first International Congress of Nephrology in Evian and Geneva in 1960 that was chaired by Jean Hamburger and where was decided the founding of the International Society of Nephrology.