Special Feature Fernando Valderrabano Memorial Lecture Renal transplantation 2004: where do we stand today?

died at the age of 59 years. He was a leading figure in Spanish nephrology, a full professor of Medicine/ Nephrology at the University Complutense of Madrid, and an outstanding scientist who published more than 300 articles in medical journals. He was a very intelligent and cultured person, and a man of great style who enjoyed a wide range of hobbies and interests in addition to his medical work. All his colleagues and friends mourn his passing. In spite of considerable progress in immunosuppres-sive and supportive treatment, numerous problems persist which interfere with the success of renal trans-plantation. Before transplantation has been per-formed, factors impacting on outcome include th