Summary This study describes data available at the High Complexity Procedures Authorization Subsystem on Renal Replacement Therapy (Apac/TRS) from 2000 to 2006 and evaluates its potential use for monitoring end stage chronic renal disease patients in Brazil. After gathering 2,192 Apac files and excluding repeated records, we have analyzed the epidemiological profile of patients initiating Renal Replacement Therapy according to age, sex, region, treatment and cause of renal disease. We have identified 148,284 patients in dialysis during the period of the study. The incidence rate was estimated as 119,8/1,000,000 inhabitants/year, varying from 143,6/1,000,000/year in the South of Brazil to 66,3/1,000,000/year in the North of the country. Hypertension was the listed cause of renal disease in 32,571 cases (22%), followed by dia-betes mellitus in 20,414 cases (13.8%) and glomerulonephritis in 10,654 cases (7.2%). Undetermined cause accounted for 66,439 of all cases (44.8%). Incidence was stable, except for those patients over 65, among whom incidence has increased. The data available at