1-2
Past, present, and future of KDIGO
Norbert Lameire: Co-chair, KDIGO

Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) was launched in 2003 as a non-profit foundation governed by an international board of directors, with the stated mission to improve the care and outcomes of kidney disease patients worldwide through promoting coordination, collaboration, and integration of initiatives to develop and implement clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). The rationale for KDIGO is that whereas regional resources vary, the science and evidence-based care of patients with kidney disease are universal, and that opportunities exist in globalizing and sharing the evidence but localizing the decision making and implementation of CPGs. This would provide a greater opportunity for regional organizations to concentrate their resources on implementing guidelines, translating them into clinical practice, and evaluating their effectiveness. The first KDIGO CPGs on Hepatitis C in CKD are now completed and will be submitted to public review this summer. Two other CPGs now under development by KDIGO are on Mineral and Bone Disorder in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD-MBD) and on the Care of the Kidney Transplant Recipient. KDIGO will share the evidence report of its guidelines with regional organizations and provide support for the adoption, adaptation, and implementation of CPGs to suit regional needs and resources. In an attempt to further coordination efforts, KDIGO has established a Liaison Task Force composed of five major organizations that have published evidence-based CPGs in English in order to develop uniformity in grading the evidence and strength of recommendations, attempt to reconcile or provide a rationale for existing variations in currently recommended targets, and to coordinate the process of updating existing guidelines. The reception of KDIGO heretofore has been most gratifying. Its future success depends on the participation, input, guidance and cooperation of the nephrology community worldwide.