[Renal biopsy in patients aged 65 years or older: are there differences in the indication and histopathology compared to other patients?]. / La biopsia renal en pacientes de 65 o más años: ¿existen diferencias en la indicación y en la histopatología respecto al resto de pacientes?

BACKGROUND: Renal biopsy (RB) represents the gold standard for diagnosis of kidney diseases. In this paper we analyse whether the indication of RB and histopathology in patients 65 years or older is different from the other patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 93 native renal biopsies performed in the General Hospital of Segovia in the period 2004-2008. The RB was performed percutaneously under ultrasound guidance in real time, using a 16G automatic needle. RESULTS: Mean age of biopsied patients was 56.89 ± 19 (range 14-89) , and 57% were males. A total of 39RB were performed on people aged 65 years or older. Overall, nephrotic syndrome (NS) is the most common indication of RB, and IgA glomerulonephritis the most common histology. In people ≥ 65 years, acute renal failure (ARF) is the most common indication for RB, and rapidly progressing (crescentic) glomerulonephritis/vasculitis the most detected the diagnosis. When taking age into account, no significant differences in the number of glomeruli obtained by RB or in the number of RB performed on the same patient. CONCLUSIONS: In people 65 years or older, ARF is the main indication of RB and crescentic glomerulonephritis/vasculitis the most frequent diagnosis.