The history of the ISRNM

The 9th International Congress was held in Vienna, Austria in 1998 from August 29-September 1. The organizing committee was co-chaired by Walter H Horl and Wilfred Druml. The scientific program of this congress with a total of 197 presentations (101 invited and free communications and 96 posters) included new information about appetite, the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of malnutrition in the development of atherosclerosis and the association between malnutrition and morbidity and mortality. Also included were the effect of nutrients and growth factors on erythropoiesis and the haematological response to Erythropoetin, mechanism of uremic toxicity, assessment and treatment of nutritional disorders in CKD. The dietitians contributed with 30 presentations (17 free communications and 13 posters) and selected proceedings were published in volume 10, numbers 1, 3 and 4 of the Journal of Renal Nutrition. The new officers elected to the ISRNM Council were: the 5th President: William E. Mitch (USA), Immediate Past President: Walter H. Horl (Austria), President Elect: John Walls (UK), Secretary-Treasurer: George A Kaysen (USA) and council members: Gianfranco Guarnieri (Italy), Mary Kay Hensley RD (USA), William.Keane (USA), Toshimitsu.Niwa (Japan), Boleslaw Rutkowski (Poland), Sudhir.Shah (USA). The Thomas Addis award was presented to William E Mitch MD for his contributions to the science of renal nutrition and metabolism (11). The welcome reception was held at the Rathaus Keller Rittersaal, a buffet dinner at the Museum of Fine Arts and the Gala Dinner at the Schonborn Palace.