Can we improve diagnosis of renal failure? A revised coding system for Middle East and North Africa.

Introduction: Reporting data on primary renal disease (PRD) causing end-stage renal failure (ESRF) is generally inconsistent and diagnostic groups poorly defined.

Methods: We have identified all papers published from the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East, Arabia and North Africa during the decade 2000-2009 that report data on PRD in patients reaching ESRF in this region.

Results: We propose a system in which all diagnoses fall into one of 8 broad groups: ESRF of uncertain etiology, Congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) and acquired Uropathy, Glomerular diseases, Tubulo-interstitial disease (TID), Other Congenital and Familial diseases, Diabetes, Renovascular disease, Other Specified Diagnoses.