Renal supportive care: view from across the pond: the United States perspective.

Renal supportive care is an emerging field of study and practice in the United States. Data from the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) have informed us of the poor prognosis for many dialysis patients, the incidence of dialysis withdrawal, and the underutilization of hospice services. Practice guidelines, research in the field, and the available resources are discussed.