Nolph and Gokal's Text Book of Peritoneal Dialysis, Third Edition, covers advances made in this field for the past 30 years. During the past two decades, the time during which this therapy has been increasingly utilized, this text has continued to be recognized as the major source of the discipline's base knowledge. The evolution of this text to its newest edition parallels the growth of peritoneal dialysis from Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis in the eighties to the current therapy that encompasses manual and automated therapies with full emphasis on adequacy of dialysis dose.

Ramesh Khanna, M.D. is Director, Divisionof Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Health Sciences Center, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA.

Raymond T. Krediet, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor of Nephrology, Renal Unit, Department of Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Contents: History of Peritonal Dialysis.- Current Status of PD Including CAPD.- Ultrastructure of the Peritoneum.- The Peritoneal Microcirculation in Peritoneal Dialysis.- The Physiology of Peritoneal Solute and Water Transport and Lymphatics.- Monitoring the Functiona Status of the Peritoneum.- Physiology of High Transport Status.- Animal Modeals in Peritoneal Dialysis.- Pharmacological Alterations of Peritoneal Transport Rates and Pharmacokinetics in Peritoneal Dialysis.- Peritoneal Dialysis Solutions and Biocompatibility.- Periotoneal Dialysis Access and Exit-Site Care Including Surgical Aspects.- Organization of a Peritoneal Dialysis Program.- Peritoneal Dialysis in the Elderly.- Automated Peritoneal Dialysis.- Adequacy of Peritoneal Dialysis Including Fluid Balance, Electrolytes, Minerals and Middle Molecules.- Ultrafiltration Failure Including Peritoneal Encapsulating Sclerosis.- Nutritional Aspects of Peritoneal Dialysis Including MIA Syndrome.- Peritonitis.- Long-term PD Patients; Peritoneal Structure, Function and Characteristics.- Calcium, Phosphate and REanl Osteodystrophy.- Anemia.- Non-Infectious Complications of Peritoneal Dialysis.- Peritoneal Dialysis in Diabetics.- Peritoneal Dialysis in Children.- MIA Syndrome and Vascular Calcification.- Quality of Life in Peritoneal Dialysis.- The Use of Peritoneal Dialysis in Special Situations.- Outcome with Peritoneal Dialysis Compared to Hemodialysis.- Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.- Peritoneal Dialysis in Developing Countries.