I would like to greet all JSDT members on the occasion of the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy.

Dialysis therapy has shown tremendous advancement in Japan during the past 40 years. We can say that the success rate of the treatment here is one of the highest in the world. Japan, in spite of having one of the world’s highest ratios of patients on dialysis among those who require the treatment, has the imbalance of far fewer patients receiving peritoneal dialysis or kidney transplants than in western countries, in relation to the number of patients on hemodialysis.

Moreover, there are many more patients of early-stage diabetic nephropathy than of early-stage chronic glomerular nephritis, and this would further accelerate the increase in the number of patients on dialysis. The current rate of this increase suggests that the number of patients on maintenance dialysis would cross 350,000 by 2010.

To provide well-balanced medical care for renal failure, firstly, it is important to provide a choice of three therapies, i.e., hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and kidney transplantation. In this context, it becomes necessary to have educational programs, booklets, etc, that explain available therapies so that the patients would have proper knowledge about the therapies.

It is also necessary to create a network around well-equipped core hospitals so that even when patients opt for peritoneal dialysis or kidney transplantation which are not available at all hospitals, these can be made available. Such a system cannot be created by the efforts of individuals alone, it requires cooperation among the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy (JSDT), the Japanese Society of Nephrology (JSN), the Japan Society for Transplantation (JST), and Japanese Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (JSPD).

At JSDT I would like to work, in collaboration with the JSN, JST, and JSPD, for the creation of a well-balanced medical care system for patients with renal failure, which would ensure that they receive appropriate treatment. In this endeavor, I wish to make full use of my experience in kidney transplantation, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and the treatment of renal failure in general, as also my experience as the Chairman of the Committee for Comprehensive Management of Renal Failure.

I seek sincere cooperation from each JSDT member to make the upcoming Annual Meeting a meeting that “Heading into the future” is available, on the basis of the results of research by, and the valued opinions of, JSDT members on the pathogenesis and treatment of renal failure, measures to deal with complications, blood purification technologies, nursing, care, and medical economics.

Jun Minakuchi
(Director, Kawashimakai Medical Corporation/Kawashima Hospital)
President, The 53rd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy