Multifactorial approach and superior treatment efficacy in renal patients with the aid of nurse practitioners. Design of The MASTERPLAN Study [ISRCTN73187232].

"AvZ drafted the manuscript, IvdT contributed extensively to the statistical analysis section. GL was the initiator of the study. PB, MB, MtD, MvB, PvdV, GV, LV and JW contributed to the design of the study. PB, MB, GV, GL, and JW helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. The authors declare that they have no competing interests."

"AcknowledgementsThis study is supported by the Dutch Kidney Foundation (Nierstichting Nederland), grant number pv-01, and Netherlands Heart Foundation (Nederlandse Hartstichting), grant number 2003B261. Unrestricted grants were provided by Amgen, Genzyme, and Pfizer.Dr. Yvo W. Sijpkens and Dr. Henk E. Sluiter have recently joined the study group as lead investigators in new participating centers (Leiden University Medical Center and Deventer Ziekenhuizen)."