Nephrotic syndrome in the elderly: clinical and pathological analyses

Objective To analyze the clinical manifestations and pathologic characters of nephrotic syndrome in elderly patients. Methods We collected 41 nephrotic syndrome patients who were more than 60 years old in our hospital from January 2009 to January 2014 and analyzed their clinical manifestations and pathologic characters. Results All of the 41 cases with nephrotic syndrome were diagnosed by renal biopsy,with 28 cases in primary glomerular disease( 68. 29%),in which membranous nephropathy was the most common pathological type,followed by focal segmental glomerular sclerosis and minimal change disease,and with 13 cases in secondary nephrotic syndrome( 31. 71%). Except for nephrotic syndrome,hematuria was found in 25 cases( 60. 98%),hypertension in 24 cases( 58. 54%),renal dysfunction in 20 cases( 48. 78%). Infection was the major complication( 26. 83%). No serious complications were found after the renal biopsy. Conclusion The most common disease in the elderly patients with nephrotic syndrome is primary glomerular disease,in which membranous nephropathy is the most common pathological type. Major clinical manifestations are edema,hematuria,high blood pressure and high incidence of renal function impairment. Infection is the major complication. Renal biopsy is safe to apply in the elderly patients with nephrotic syndrome.