Clinical practice guidelines in nephrology--for worse or for better.

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs)* (throughout the text, terms marked with an asterisk are defined in Table 1 in alphabetical order) [1] have become important tools in shaping the care of individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). CPGs inform patient care, scientific debate, research agendas and policies. At the same time, CPGs have been criticized for restricting the care provided by physicians to patients. This article is intended as a review of selected topics related to guideline development and its application in nephrology, which ultimately aim at informing decision making and improving the quality of care.