-
1961: threshold of the new nephrology
A symposium in Edinburgh on 25th March 1961 was one of the first in the UK to consider the full new range of clinical nephrology. Twin coil artificial kidney (Kolff-Travenol dialysis machine) in Edinburgh Dialysis for acute renal failure (ARF, AKI)The excitement in the first session is palpable. Nobody at this meeting was negative about…
-
Acute nephritis in 1875
50 years after Bright Richard Bright’s 1827 report created the discipline of nephrology and triggered an exciting period of clinical research into kidney disease. William Howship Dickinson (1832-1913) was one of these early nephrologists, employed at Great Ormond St Children’s Hospital in London. In addition to an interest in neurology he wrote a notable three-part…
-
Obstetric renal failure
Alarming emergency and important public health marker Methodist Hospital, Dallas, 1966 (credit at foot of post) In the early days of dialysis obstetric renal failure was a major part of the work of a renal unit. Acute renal failure was estimated to occur in 1 in 1400 to 1 in 5000 pregnancies in the UK…
-
Diet for acute renal failure in the 1940s
The beginning of the multidisciplinary renal team In 1949 Thomas Addis described the anarchy that existed in recommendations for the management of acute glomerulonephritis. He argued for protein restriction, as was becoming accepted for chronic uraemia, but it was in acute renal failure (ARF, or AKI) that real progress was being made. An Edinburgh diet…
-
The Korean War 1950-3: acute dialysis finds its place
War medicine tests science and dialysis In June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. After a rapid advance, their army was repulsed by American and Commonwealth reinforcements, but in November China joined the war and the battle lines moved back and forth until settling around the 38th parallel marking the border. Fighting continued until an…
-
Bombs, earthquakes and rhabdomyolysis
Seventy years ago the Battle of Britain led to recognition of a new disease and to important discoveries about acute renal failure The Blitz, East London September 1940 (Wikimedia Commons) In the Summer of 1940, the German Luftwaffe switched its bombing targets from English airfields and aircraft factories to cities, and in September 1940…