Professor David Kerr Royal Victoria Infirmary) Newcastle upon Tyne Do we
need another book on renal disease? There are few small books,
particularly from this side of the Atlantic, which provide a really
sound foundation of renal physiology, biochemistry and immunology. For
two decades "The Kidney" by Hugh de Wardener has given a splendid
background in renal physiology but I doubt if any author has brought to
this subject as wide an experience and knowledge of basic science as Dr
Wardle possesses. His researches have ranged over haematology, the role
of in- travascular coagulation in acute renal failure, the biochemistry
of uremic metabolites, the immunology of glomerulonephritis, to
hyperlipidemia in the genesis of arterial disease. In all these topics
he has mastered the laboratory techniques as well as studying the
patients personally. He therefore has a unique opportunity to show how
renal disease can be illuminated by an understanding of the pathogenetic
mechanism and to point the way to future treatment more logical than the
crude and empirical methods we use today. This approach should appeal
particularly to the young graduate whose memory of biocht: mistry and
physiology is still reasonably fresh.