SINCE THE MID-1960S, it had become apparent that scientific research concerning abnormal metabolism of protein, lipid, carbohydrate, vitamins, and minerals in renal disease had progressed rapidly. In addition, the nutritional management of patients with renal disease had changed as a result of these new developments.
Several investigators, Joel D. Kopple, Shaul G. Massry, and August Heidland concluded that a congress be held to bring together investigators interested in the science of renal nutrition. This decision proved to be beneficial and also timely, and an organizing committee was formed to plan the 1st International Congress on Nutrition in Renal Disease, subsequently held at the High School of Music in Würzburg, Germany from May 23 to 25, 1977. Members of the organizing committee included August Heidland (Germany), Joel D. Kopple (USA), Shaul G. Massry (USA), Reinhold Kluthe (Germany), Ebenhard Ritz (Germany), and Benjamin Burton (USA). The congress was well attended by scientists from many countries. A total of 96 scientific papers (30 invited, 29 free communications, 37 posters) were presented, contributing to a significant amount of new information and the re-evaluation of methodologies for research.1
The Social Program included a Symphonic Concert by the Orchestra of the High School of Music in the Imperial Hall of the prince-bishops’ residence, and the reception was given by the Bavarian local government’s secretary of state, W. Vorndran.
The enthusiastic response to this meeting resulted in the organization of the 2nd International Congress, held in Bologna, Italy, from June 13 to 15, 1979.
Vittorio Bonomini chaired the scientific and local organizing committee. This congress was once again well attended by physicians, biochemists, and physiologists and also by several dietitians from Europe and the United States. This congress proved a success, with a total of 123 presentations, varying from biochemistry and metabolism of proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, and methods of evaluating nutritional status and management of biochemical, metabolic, and nutritional disorders in renal disease and in renal failure. The organizing committee then decided to continue and plan regular meetings. Its scientific focus expanded to include metabolism in renal disease and renal failure, to include the broad field of metabolism.2
The 3rd International Congress on Nutrition and Metabolism in Renal Disease was held at the Medical Faculty of the University of Marseille, France from September 1 to 4, 1982. Michel Olmer, Carmello Giordano, and Mackenzie Walser joined the international organizing committee. The national organizing committee chaired by Michel Olmer planned an excellent scientific congress.
The number of presentations increased to a total of 192 (22 invited, 173 free communications and posters) and included studies about the mechanism of nutritional and metabolic disorders. This congress was also attended by 22 dietitians from several countries.3
The official evening events program included the welcome reception by the mayor of Marseille, Mr G. Deferre, at the Palais du Pharao, a concert given by the Regional Orchestra of the Auvergne at the Abbaye Saint-Victor, dinner at the famous fishing village of Cassis, and a banquet at Chateau de la Pioline, Aix-Les Milles.
The 4th International Congress was held at the College of William and Mary in colonial Williamsburg, VA, USA, from October 10 to 13, 1985.
The international committee, chaired by Joel D. Kopple, and the local organizing committee, chaired by James F. Winchester, ensured that the scientific and the social program was outstanding for all delegates, including dietitians.
It was noted that the field of renal nutrition and metabolism was one of the most exciting and rapidly growing fields in all of nephrology. Among the most promising advances were the number of nutrients that may each affect renal glomerular physiology and biochemistry, in health and in disease. Treatment strategies that involved the modification of dietary nutrient intake were being assessed for their effects on renal biochemistry, hemodynamics, and pathophysiology and on the course of progression of renal disease. There was also evidence that a number of nutrients and nutritional disorders influenced the risk of hypertension and the ability to treat hypertension successfully. The introduction of the proceedings of this congress includes the following statement:
The purpose of these meetings in future is to evaluate, in renal disease and in renal failure, the biochemistry and metabolism of proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins and minerals, the nutritional assessment of patients, the causes of nutritional abnormalities and the treatment of nutritional disorders, including the use of diet to prevent or retard progression of renal failure.4
A barbecue was held at the historic Berkeley Plantation (town of “A Hundred [families] and Plantations”, which dates back to 1619 and was the site of the first Thanksgiving Day celebration). An afternoon in Colonial Williamsburg and the gala dinner at The Trellis restaurant were included in the social program for delegates and guests.
The Formation of the International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism
The 5th International Congress was held in Strasbourg, France from September 1 to 3, 1988. Henri Jahn chaired the local organizing committee.
A total of 183 scientific papers was presented (73 invited and free communications and 110 posters). Parallel meetings were also organized for the first time for the 72 renal dietitians, with 20 presentations.
The major emphasis during this congress concerned nutritional factors affecting the pathophysiology of chronic renal failure, the current status of clinical trials of dietary treatment of progressive renal disease, the compliance with prescribed diet, and the metabolism of nutrients in both chronic and acute renal failure or the nephrotic syndrome.
Also addressed were the effects of carnitine treatment, the pathogenesis and treatment of hypercatabolism in acute and chronic renal failure, and new developments in parenteral nutrition, including the use of intravenous peptides.
At this meeting, it was decided to found the International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM), and the society was formally established in December 1988. The following members were nominated by a committee of the initial councillors and officers: Claude Jacobs (France), Gianfranco Guarnieri (Italy), and George A. Kaysen (USA). This resulted in the election of the first president, Joel D. Kopple (USA); vice president, August Heidland (Germany); treasurer, William E. Mitch (USA); and council members Jonas Bergstrom (Sweden), Carmello Giordano (Italy), Walter H. Horl (Austria), Henri Jahn (France), Saulo Klahr (USA), Shaul G. Massry (USA), and Mackenzie Walser (USA). The society would from now onward be responsible for conducting future congresses.5 The farewell dinner was held in the Alsatian countryside at the Auberge de Kochersberg.
The 6th International Congress was held at the Harrogate Conference Center in Harrogate, United Kingdom from August 26 to 30, 1991. John Walls chaired the local organizing committee, resulting in an excellent scientific program that included 67 invited and free communications and 181 poster presentations. The official ISRNM logo was developed and displayed for the first time on all congress material and stationery.
Growth factors were the subject of active investigation, both as potential agents promoting progressive renal failure and also as potential therapy for short stature and malnutrition. Nutritional disorders play a major role in the clinical course of patients with renal disease and renal failure. Dialysis prescription and assessment of adequacy of treatment were commonly believed to be linked to the nutritional intake of the patient.
During this congress, the dietitians held their first official meeting, with their own program (24 presentations and posters). Marianne Vennegoor (UK), Susan Bennett (UK), Marianne Ahlberg (Sweden), and Mary Kay Hensley (USA) were mainly responsible for this new development. Selected presentations were published for the first time in the Journal of Renal Nutrition.6
Three hundred seventy-two delegates attended this well-organized congress, including 130 dietitians. Active participation by a significant number of well-motivated dietitians led to the proposal by council to admit dietitians as associate members of the society and to elect the associate council member representing the dietitians at the next congress, pending approval of the bylaw changes of the ISRNM in 1994. The following council members were elected: 2nd president, August Heidland (Germany); vice president, Shaul G. Massry (USA); secretary-treasurer, William E. Mitch (USA); and ISRNM council members Giuseppe D’Amico (Italy), Jonas Bergstrom (Sweden), Walter H. Horl (Austria), George Kaysen (USA), Joel D. Kopple (USA), Saulo Klahr (USA), and John Walls (UK).
The bylaw changes included the following mission statement that also would appear on the newly created ISRNM Website (http://www.renalnutrition.com), from 2000 onward:
The purpose of this Society shall be to advance the knowledge of nutrition and metabolism in renal disease and renal failure and to foster communication of the advancements of this knowledge by means of scientific meetings and cooperation with other scientific societies of nephrology, nutrition, biochemistry and physiology.
The ISRNM had now become a dynamic and thriving organization.7
The welcome reception was hosted by the mayor of Harrogate, a vintage train was chartered to visit the medieval Viking town of York, and an excellent farewell banquet was held at Rudding House, a large, early 19th-century mansion outside Harrogate. During this occasion, two physicians, Sergio Giovanetti and Carmello Giordano were awarded special recognition for their outstanding contribution to the science of renal nutrition and metabolism.
During 1993, the ISRNM and the Moscow Medical Academy organized the Moscow Seminar in Nephrology, which was held from September 30 to October 2. The majority of topics were related to progression of renal disease, nutritional and metabolic consequences, and treatment of renal disease and dialysis. This seminar was organized and attended by August Heidland (Germany), George A. Kaysen (USA), Joel D. Kopple (USA), Shaul G. Massry (USA), and Natale G. de Santo (Italy).
The 7th International Congress, arranged under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, was held at the Norra Latin Conference Center in Stockholm, Sweden, from May 29 to June 1, 1994. Jonas Bergstrom chaired the local organizing committee, and with Anders Alvestrand, Marianne Ahlberg, and other members of the committee, welcomed several hundred delegates with an excellent scientific and social program.
The science of renal nutrition and metabolism has developed greatly during the past 16 years, and the scientific program reflected these new developments in basic and clinical research. A total of 216 papers was presented (62 invited and free communications and 154 posters) at a congress that was attended by 258 scientists and 75 dietitians. The two dietitian sessions, with 24 presentations, were organized by Marianne Ahlberg (Sweden) and Marianne Vennegoor (UK), and selected proceedings were once again published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition.8
The bylaws change regarding associate membership of dietitians was approved by the ISRNM membership, and the associate council member representing them was to be elected by the dietitian members during the next congress. It also was decided to hold biannual congresses from here on.
New council members elected were the following: the third president, Shaul G. Massry (USA); vice president, Walter H. Horl (Austria); past president, August Heidland (Germany); secretary-treasurer, William E. Mitch (USA); and council members Giuseppe D’Amico (Italy), Tim H. J. Goodship (UK), George A. Kaysen (USA), Ralph Rabkin (USA), John Walls (UK), and Marsha Wolfson (USA).9
In addition to the welcome reception at Norra Latin, a buffet reception was given at Stockholm City Hall, which is famous for being the site of the annual dinner of Nobel Prize winners. The farewell dinner was held at the Hasselbacken Museum.
The 8th International Congress was held at the Castel dell’Ovo in Naples, Italy in 1996, from October 9 to 12. The local organizing committee was chaired by Natale G. de Santo and was co-chaired by V. Zappia.
Once again, several hundred physicians, scientists, renal nutritionists, and other healthcare workers attended this congress. The topics addressed ranged from cell and molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry, and epidemiology to clinical interventions and large-scale trials. Nutritional and metabolic disorders are common with renal disease and acute or chronic renal failure. Treatment may reduce their morbidity and mortality. In total, 169 scientific papers were presented (90 invited and free communications and 96 posters).
During the sessions for dietitians, 16 papers were presented as free and poster presentations. Selected manuscripts from dietitians were published in volume 7 (1997), numbers 2, 3, and 4 of the Journal of Renal Nutrition.
The following officers were elected to the ISRNM Council: the fourth president, Walter H. Horl (Austria); immediate past president, Shaul G. Massry (USA); vice president, William E. Mitch (USA); secretary-treasurer, George A. Kaysen (USA); and council members Giuseppe D’Amico (Italy), Natale G. de Santo (Italy), Tim H. J. Goodship (UK), Ralph Rabkin (USA), Marianne Vennegoor (UK), John Walls (UK), and Marsha Wolfsen (USA).10
Natale G. de Santo also organized the very interesting International Seminar on the History of Nutrition, held at the Italian Institute of Philosophy. The welcoming reception was held at the Teatro di Corte, Palazzo Reale; the concert, at the Chiesa del Gesu; and the farewell dinner, at the splendid Hotel Exelsior.
The 9th International Congress was held in Vienna, Austria in 1998, from August 29 to 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 hematological response to erythropoietin, mechanism of uremic toxicity, and assessment and treatment of nutritional disorders in chronic kidney disease. The dietitian associate members 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 (USA), William Keane (USA), Toshimitsu Niwa (Japan), Boleslaw Rutkowski (Poland), and Sudhir Shah (USA). The Thomas Addis award was presented to William E. Mitch 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 was held at the Museum of Fine Arts, and the gala dinner was held at the Schönborn Palace.
The 10th International Congress was held at the Palais de Congress in Lyon, France from July 6 to 8, 2000, with Denis Fouque and William E. Mitch as congress presidents.
This congress in the heart of France was attended by more than 400 delegates (100 were dietitians) from 40 countries worldwide.
During the official opening of the congress, Sergio Giovanetti from Pisa, Italy, who died on January 20, 2000, was remembered with a 1-minute silence.
There were 166 presentations (62 invited and free communications and 104 posters), and these covered topics concerning clinical and basic research areas, insulin resistance and diabetic nephropathy, control of phosphate and the development and management of renal osteodystrophy, control of dietary sodium and the mechanism of hypertension, metabolic consequences of proteinuria, methods to improve nutritional status of dialysis patients, and new concepts in the regulation of protein metabolism.
Michel Apericio from Bordeaux, France delivered the ISRNM Award Lecture about the nutritional safety of supplemented low-protein diets. He received this award for his outstanding contributions to the understanding of metabolic effects of renal disease.
During the parallel sessions for dietitians, 39 scientific papers were presented, on various aspects of nutrition research and practical aspects of delivering nutritional care.
During the council elections, the following members were elected: the sixth president, John Walls (UK); past president, William E. Mitch (USA); president elect, George A. Kaysen (USA); secretary-treasurer, Sudhir Shah (USA); and councillors Denis Fouque (France), Gianfranco Guarnieri (Italy), William Keane (USA); Christina Kilates (USA), Toshimitsu Niwa (Japan), and Boleslaw Rutkowski (Poland).
The ISRNM presented their highest award, the Addis Medal, to Jonas Bergstrom for his many contributions to the area of renal nutrition and metabolism. Denis Fouque and his congress-organizing committee were congratulated on providing an excellent social program that included the mayor’s welcoming reception, held at the splendid town hall of Lyon, and the extraordinary culinary experience at Paul Bocuse’s L’Abbaye de Collognes restaurant, still remembered by many to this day.12
The 11th International Congress was held in Nagoya, Japan at the Nagoya Congress Center, from March 29 to 31, 2002. Toshimitsu Niwa was chairman of the program and local organizing committees.
This excellent congress was attended by 624 delegates from 28 countries, including more than 25 dietitians.
A 2-minute silence was observed at the start of the congress to remember the sixth president of the ISRNM, John Walls, from the United Kingdom, who had died on March 1, 2001, and Jonas Bergstrom, who died on August 17, 2001.
The John Walls Memorial Lecture, presented by Glen Chertow on March 30, was entitled “Mineral Metabolism and Mortality in Hemodialysis”.
Among the 212 papers (70 invited and free communications and 142 posters) presented were lectures on major advances in nutrition and metabolism and how these advances influence the care of pre-dialysis patients, dialysis patients, and transplant recipients as well as herbal use in renal disease. Public lectures included “Prevention and Diet Therapy of Renal Disease”. During the dietitians’ sessions, 18 papers were presented by colleagues from far afield. As with all previous congresses, this one provided an excellent forum and the opportunity for individual exchange and networking.13
Selected proceedings were published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition.14
The results of the Council election were as follows: the seventh president, George A. Kaysen (USA); president elect, Denis Fouque (France); secretary-treasurer, Sudhir Shah (USA); and council members Lillian Cuppari, RD (Brazil), Gianfranco Guarnieri (Italy), William F. Keane (USA), Toshimitsu Niwa (Japan), Boleslaw Rutkowski (Poland), and Peter Stenvinkel (Sweden).
The congress was concluded with a special Japanese gourmet dinner with hostess (geisha) entertainment. The optional day visit by Shinkansen bullet train to the ancient city of Kyoto, where the cherry blossom trees were in full bloom, was an unforgettable experience for many.
The 12th International Congress was held at the Congress Center “Pietro Abano” in Abano Terme, close to Padua and Venice, Italy, from June 18–22 in 2004. Chairs of the program and local organizing committees were Gianfranco Guarnieri, Annamaria Bernardini, and Giuseppe Bucciante.
More than 430 delegates participated at this congress, which began with a half-day pre-Congress educational update that was attended by many.
Two hundred three papers were presented (113 invited and free communications and 90 posters). Topics in the main congress program included new hormones and inflammation, protein metabolism, exercise and nutrition to improve metabolic abnormalities, pharmacological therapy, cardiovascular complications, and energy balance and body composition. Other issues included carnitine supplementation and enteral and parenteral nutrition.
During the dietitians’ sessions, attended by more than 90 dietitians, 28 papers were presented on several aspects of nutrition research and practice.
The 2nd International Workshop on Skeletal Muscle Metabolism and Exercise Physiology in Chronic Renal Disease was held immediately after the ISRNM Congress.
The results of the council elections were as follows: the eighth president, Denis Fouque (France); past president, George A. Kaysen (USA); president elect, Gianfranco Guarnieri (Italy); secretary-treasurer, T. Alp Ikizler (USA); and council members Maria Chan (Australia), Harald Franch (USA), Nathan Levin (USA), Yoshiki Nishizawa (Japan), Peter Stenvinkel (Sweden), and Christoph Wanner (Germany)
During the preceding years, negotiations had begun with the National Kidney Foundation (USA), and these resulted in future co-sponsorship of the Journal of Renal Nutrition. The proceedings of this congress were published in the Journal, and those of future congresses would be published in its future editions; the co-editors for these proceedings were Denis Fouque and Jordi Goldstein-Fuchs.15
The social program included the official opening ceremony in the splendid Aula Magna “Galileo Galilei” of the Bo Palace at the Old University of Padua. One of the scientific sessions ending with a concert was held at the Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista in Venice (with many famous paintings by Tinteretto). The farewell conference dinner was held at the Relais Golf in Montechia.
The 13th International Congress of the Society was held at the Fiesta Americana Hotel in Merida, Mexico from February 28 to March 4, 2006. Alejandro Trevino-Beccera presided over the scientific and organizing committees.
The pre-Congress workshop on Skeletal Muscle Metabolism in Renal Disease and the Basic Nutrition in Renal Disease course were held on February 28 and were well attended.
One hundred forty-nine papers (including 27 by dietitians) were presented at a highly successful congress that was attended by more than 500 delegates, of whom 134 were dietitians and nutritionists, many from Mexico and South America.
The council election results were as follows: the ninth president, Gianfranco Guarnieri (Italy); past president, Denis Fouque (France); president elect, T. Alp Ikizler (USA); secretary-treasurer, Harald Franch (USA); and council members Maria Chan (Australia), Philippe Chauveau (France), Francis Dumler (USA), Kaymar Kalantar-Zadeh (USA), Nathan Levin (USA), Yoshiki Nishizawa (Japan), and Christoph Wanner (Germany). The prestigious ISRNM Addis Award was presented to George A. Kaysen for his outstanding scientific contributions concerning renal nutrition and metabolism.
The opening ceremony was held in the Peon Contreras Theatre and ended with a ballet performance by the Ballet de la Universidad Antomonia de Yucatan. All delegates had the opportunity to visit the most impressive archeological site of Uxmal, followed by the site’s sound and light show. The farewell dinner was held at the Hacienda Teya restaurant, which is well known for its classic Mexican cuisine.
Table 1 provides a summary of each of the ISRNM Congress locations and presidents, and Table 2 provides a summary of each of the ISRNM proceedings.
| | |
 | Congress Number and City | Journal Abbreviation | Volume Number | Year of Publication | |
|---|
| 1st, Würzburg | Am J Clin Nutr | 31 | 1978 | |
| 2nd,Bologna | AmJClinNutr | 33 | 1980 | |
| 3rd,Marseilles | KidneyInt | 24 | 1983 | |
| 4th,Williamsburg | KidneyInt | 32 | 1987 | |
| 5th,Strasbourg | KidneyInt | 37 | 1989 | |
| 6th,Harrogate | MinerElectrolyteMetab⁎ | 18 | 1992 | |
| 7th,Stockholm | MinerElectrolyteMetab⁎ | 22 | 1996 | |
| 8th,Naples | MinerElectrolyteMetab⁎ | 23 | 1997 | |
| 9th,Vienna | MinerElectrolyteMetab⁎ | 25 | 1999 | |
| 10th,Lyon | AmJKidneyDis⁎ | 37 | 2001 | |
| 11th,Nagoya | AmJKidneyDis⁎ | 41 | 2003 | |
| 12th,Padua | JRenNutr⁎ | 15 | 2005 | |
| 13th,Merida | JRenNutr | 17 | 2007 | |
| 14th,Marseilles | NA | NA | NA | |
| | |
| ⁎ Selected dieticians’ papers published in J Ren Nutr. |
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