The clinico-pathologic characteristics of the very elderly Chinese patients with kidney disease

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinico-pathologic presentations and prognosis in the very elderly patients undergoing renal biopsy. Methods The patients who underwent renal biopsy in Nephrology Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were screened from May 2012 to March 2016.All patients were divided into observation group (aged ≥80 years) and control group (aged 65-70 years). The clinico-pathological classifications and prognosis were compared between the two groups. Results Primary glomerulopathy was the most frequent pathologic diagnosis in observation and control groups[20(60.6%) and 64(64.0%), respectively, P=0.726]. Among primary glomerulopathy, membranous nephropathy was the most frequent histopathological type[10(50.0%) and 40 (62.5%)] in observation and control groups, respectively, (P=0.320). Among secondary glomerulopathy, the number of patients in observation group were 10 cases (30.3%) and were 13 cases (13.0%) in control group (t=5.194, P<0.05), with no significant differences between the two groups in amyloid degeneration, ANCA-associated vasculitis, HBV-associated Glomerulonephritis, and nephritis of Schonlein-Henoch purpura.In the very elderly patients with nephrotic syndrome, glomerular minimal change was the most common histological type[7 (30.4%)], followed by membranous nephropathy[6(26.1%)]. Furthermore, there were no side effects of perinephric hematoma, gross hematuria, arteriovenous fistula or other complications. Conclusions The pathological types distribution of patients aged≥80 versus 65-70 years is different.And the renal biopsy is relatively safe and has an important role for the very elderly patients. Key words: Elderly, aged 80 years and over; Pathology; Nephrotic syndrome