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Jonas Bergstrom, MD, PhD 1929 - 2001
In Memoriam Jonas Bergstrom, MD, PhD 1929 - 2001
J
ONAS BERGSTROM, one of the most cited clinical scientists in nephrology, died on August 17, 2001. As an author of more than 600 publications in clinical biochemistry, renal physiology, electrolyte metabolism, nutrition, and renal medicine, Dr Bergstrom’s scientific activity spanned almost 50 years and focused on metabolic and nutritional abnormalities in patients with chronic renal failure. After his studies at the Karolinska Institutet, Dr Bergstrom started his scientific career in 1954 at S:t Erik’s Hospital in Stockholm, where he became interested in electrolyte metabolism and later protein and amino acid metabolism. He was professor of renal medicine at the Huddinge University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet from 1980 until his retirement in 1994. He then became a senior medical consultant for Baxter’s Renal Division while simultaneously serving as professor emeritus with the Divisions of Baxter Novum and Renal Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, Karolinska Institutet. In 1959 Dr Bergstrom developed a method for percutaneous muscle biopsy and in 1962 published his thesis “Muscle Electrolytes in Man,” which is still a frequently cited reference. His muscle biopsy technique has been used in multiple studies of nutrition and metabolism in kidney disease, posttraumatic catabolism, and sports medicine. As a young doctor beginning work in nephrology, Dr Bergstrom was challenged by the lack of treatment possibilities for patients suffering from end-stage renal failure. This elicited a passionate, lifelong interest in studies of metabolic abnormalities in uremia and © 2002 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. 0272-6386/02/3902-0037$35.00/0 doi:10.1053/ajkd.2002.31813
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uremia therapy. He dedicated his professional life to improving the situation for CRF patients. After training in 1964 with Dr Belding Scribner in Seattle, he became convinced that chronic dialysis therapy could help his patients. Limited dialysis resources in the 1960s and 1970s contributed to Dr Bergstrom’s interest in conservative uremia therapy and low protein diets to help postpone the need for dialysis. During the 1970s he became interested in uremic toxins, particularly middle molecules, and performed research that described a number of potential toxins. Based on a serendipity observation in 1976, he proposed what became a widely used technique of isolated ultrafiltration or sequential ultrafiltration and dialysis. In addition, a wide range of studies in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) led to his development of the amino acid based Nutrineal dialysis solution used in many countries to prevent or treat malnutrition in CAPD patients. Dr Bergstrom’s observation in 1995 that high C-reactive protein reflecting inflammation is associated with poor nutritional status and poor survival in hemodialysis patients stimulated research on inflammation in chronic renal failure patients and provided the basis for the malnutrition, inflammation, and atherosclerosis syndrome. Dr Bergstrom’s scientific activity during his last years was as great as ever before, submitting his last scientific paper only 2 weeks before his death. He will be missed by many in Stockholm and all over the world as an outstanding scientist, physician, mentor, and friend. Bengt Lindholm, MD, PhD Anders Alvestrand, MD, PhD Karolinska Institutet Huddinge University Hospital Stockholm, Sweden
American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Vol 39, No 2 (February), 2002: p xlvi
J
ONAS BERGSTROM, one of the most cited clinical scientists in nephrology, died on August 17, 2001. As an author of more than 600 publications in clinical biochemistry, renal physiology, electrolyte metabolism, nutrition, and renal medicine, Dr Bergstrom’s scientific activity spanned almost 50 years and focused on metabolic and nutritional abnormalities in patients with chronic renal failure. After his studies at the Karolinska Institutet, Dr Bergstrom started his scientific career in 1954 at S:t Erik’s Hospital in Stockholm, where he became interested in electrolyte metabolism and later protein and amino acid metabolism. He was professor of renal medicine at the Huddinge University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet from 1980 until his retirement in 1994. He then became a senior medical consultant for Baxter’s Renal Division while simultaneously serving as professor emeritus with the Divisions of Baxter Novum and Renal Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, Karolinska Institutet. In 1959 Dr Bergstrom developed a method for percutaneous muscle biopsy and in 1962 published his thesis “Muscle Electrolytes in Man,” which is still a frequently cited reference. His muscle biopsy technique has been used in multiple studies of nutrition and metabolism in kidney disease, posttraumatic catabolism, and sports medicine. As a young doctor beginning work in nephrology, Dr Bergstrom was challenged by the lack of treatment possibilities for patients suffering from end-stage renal failure. This elicited a passionate, lifelong interest in studies of metabolic abnormalities in uremia and © 2002 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. 0272-6386/02/3902-0037$35.00/0 doi:10.1053/ajkd.2002.31813
xlvi
uremia therapy. He dedicated his professional life to improving the situation for CRF patients. After training in 1964 with Dr Belding Scribner in Seattle, he became convinced that chronic dialysis therapy could help his patients. Limited dialysis resources in the 1960s and 1970s contributed to Dr Bergstrom’s interest in conservative uremia therapy and low protein diets to help postpone the need for dialysis. During the 1970s he became interested in uremic toxins, particularly middle molecules, and performed research that described a number of potential toxins. Based on a serendipity observation in 1976, he proposed what became a widely used technique of isolated ultrafiltration or sequential ultrafiltration and dialysis. In addition, a wide range of studies in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) led to his development of the amino acid based Nutrineal dialysis solution used in many countries to prevent or treat malnutrition in CAPD patients. Dr Bergstrom’s observation in 1995 that high C-reactive protein reflecting inflammation is associated with poor nutritional status and poor survival in hemodialysis patients stimulated research on inflammation in chronic renal failure patients and provided the basis for the malnutrition, inflammation, and atherosclerosis syndrome. Dr Bergstrom’s scientific activity during his last years was as great as ever before, submitting his last scientific paper only 2 weeks before his death. He will be missed by many in Stockholm and all over the world as an outstanding scientist, physician, mentor, and friend. Bengt Lindholm, MD, PhD Anders Alvestrand, MD, PhD Karolinska Institutet Huddinge University Hospital Stockholm, Sweden
American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Vol 39, No 2 (February), 2002: p xlvi