Twenty-three years of dialysis and transplantation in Europe: experiences of the EDTA Registry.

The history of the Registry of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association-European Renal Association (EDTA-ERA) is outlined. The development of this Registry, which is run by physicians for physicians, the progress from analyses by hand to computerization, the generation of financial support, and the contribution to the annual congresses of the EDTA-ERA are described. In view of the many smaller countries in Europe, the importance of multicenter research that is organized by a registry serving a large population base is stressed.