title: The clinical trial imperative.
abstract: As clinical judgment has joined forces with evidence-based medicine, nephrologists critically assess the validity of the data available to support therapeutic decisions for children with kidney disease. Unfortunately, a paucity of data often prevents the practice of evidence-based medicine. Three scenarios illustrating the status of evidence and clinical decision making are provided. A review of the pediatric nephrology literature supports a call for general support of ongoing clinical trials and encourages the creation of additional feasible clinical trials to improve the practice of medicine.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gipson
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Trachtman
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003657:Decision Making; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000628:therapy*