An investigation of "kidney outpatient" first consultations carried out in 1985 with the cooperation of 19 nephrological teams distributed all over France. Each team had taken part in a similar investigation in 1980. The work allowed to collect 1200 records. Analysis of the main results is presented. The comparison between the 1980th and the 1985th investigations shows a remarkable stability of the results, but suggests two new and interesting features: the progress of Dip-stick studies and serum creatinine concentration in general practice and the decreasing part taken by hypertension in "kidney disease out-patient" activity in 1985.