In spite of the numerous advances made over the last few decades in the management of children with chronic renal disease, including optimization of nutrition, administration of recombinant human growth hormone (GH), control of anemia and bone disease, prevention of infections and the rational surgical approach to congenital nephrourologic malformations, growth retardation is still a major clinical manifestation of pediatric patients with chronic kidney failure or primary tubular disorders. Achievement of a subnormal final height is an important invaliding sequela that makes the adequate social integration of adults with chronic diseases difficult. Children with chronic nephropathies characteristically do not reach their genetic potential in height, even if their final stature is within the normal reference ranges. Minimizing the loss of height in children with chronic diseases remains a major challenge for pediatricians who deal with these patients. The underlying pathogenic basis of growth impairment in renal disorders remains mostly unknown. In this respect, the number of recent studies addressed to disclose the complex interaction among longitudinal growth, nutrition, bone metabolism, inflammation, genetics and cardiovascular disease in renal failure is progressively increasing. This is necessary for the effective prevention of the late complications of chronic renal disorders, which must start in infancy and childhood. Pediatric nephrologists play an essential role in accomplishing this important goal.

The 8th Symposium on Growth and Nutrition in Children with Chronic Renal Disease continued a series of symposia that was initiated in 1977 and led to regular scientific symposia every 3–5 years [1–7]. The conference provided the framework for the interaction between clinical and basic investigators with the purpose of discussing and updating relevant topics in the field of endocrinology, growth, and nutrition in kidney disorders with particular emphasis on presenting ongoing and innovative lines of investigation and stimulating the active participation of new groups and young investigators.

The Symposium included invited lectures as well as forums on growth hormone and IGF-1 physiology, hormonal regulation of weight, growth plate metabolism, bone cell biology and bone structure, prenatal programming, small gestational age infants, and the implications of these issues for chronic renal failure, primary tubular disorders, and renal transplantation. Twenty-two short oral communications were presented within the forums. The Symposium facilitated interaction among speakers and the audience’s participation by providing a friendly and informal environment and leaving enough time in each session for questions and comments. Despite the marked current limitation of pharmaceutical industry support, the global economic crisis, and the threat of the H1N1 flu pandemic, 38 speakers and moderators and almost 100 registered participants from all over the world attended and actively took part in the conference. Seven young attendees were supported by fellowships granted by the USA National Institutes of Health (NIH) and two more by fellowships of the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplantation Association (ERA-EDTA), which also provided financial support for the Symposium. In agreement with its educational projection, the Symposium was accredited with 2.9 credits by the Continuing Medical Education Commission of the Spanish System of Health.

The Symposium was an official event of the International Pediatric Nephrology Association (IPNA). On behalf of the IPNA, the four co-chairmen of the Symposium would like to acknowledge the major support from the Municipality of Oviedo, the Government of the Principality of Asturias, and the Auditorium Prince Phillip of Oviedo as well as the contribution of the University of Oviedo, the NIH, the ERA-EDTA, and the Spanish Association of Pediatric Nephrology. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Novo Nordisk and Amgen for their major financial support and thank CAPSA, Ordesa, Nutricia-Milupa, GlaxoSmithKline, Ferring, Genzyme, BBVA, Orphan Europe, Fresenius Medical Care, Abbott, Mead Johnson, and Nestle for their financial help.

The co-chairmen would like to acknowledge the active participation of the International Scientific Committee and the IPNA Council in the development of the Symposium’s program as well as the advice and encouraging support from Dr. Isidro Salusky, Secretary General of the IPNA, and the input of Dr. Matthias Brandis as previous Secretary General of the IPNA.

The celebration of the Symposium would have not been possible without the special involvement of the Fundación Nutrición y Crecimiento and the enthusiastic participation of the Local Organizing Committee. Thanks.

This issue of Pediatric Nephrology publishes peer-reviewed original and review manuscripts derived from the contributions presented to the Symposium as well as the abstracts of the 22 oral communications. We are indebted to all the speakers who participated in the Symposium and we also thank Dr. Otto Mehls and Dr. Michel Baum, as editors of Pediatric Nephrology, for their decisive support for the publication of these Symposium-related manuscripts, which we hope will be of great interest to the community of pediatric nephrologists.

We are looking forward to the 9th Symposium in the not too distant future.