Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis in the Elderly

Author(s):  
L. Furci ◽  
G. Medici ◽  
A. Baraldi ◽  
G. Malmusi ◽  
E. Lusvarghi
2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 213-217
Author(s):  
Zdenka Hruskova ◽  
Vladimir Tesar

Background: Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is characterized by a rapid deterioration of renal function and by extracapillary proliferation in >50% of glomeruli. The most common type of RPGN is “pauci-immune” glomerulonephritis caused by anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis (AAV). Summary: The incidence of AAV increases with age and pauci-immune glomerulonephritis is the most common diagnosis found in renal biopsies in the elderly population. Age was identified as an independent negative risk factor for both death and end-stage renal disease in AAV, and the mortality of older patients was uniformly higher than in younger patients in all retrospective studies. Early diagnosis may be difficult particularly in elderly patients with renal-limited disease but is important for the good outcome of the patients. Immunosuppressive treatment options include cyclophosphamide or rituximab combined with corticosteroids with or without plasma exchange in case of severe disease. Data from randomized trials are completely missing for patient aged >75 years. Based on retrospective studies, elderly patients seem to respond to immunosuppressive drugs just as younger patients are able to, but they are at a higher risk of adverse events. Key Messages: RPGN is relatively common in the elderly patients. Immunosuppressive treatment in older patients with AAV or RPGN may be useful but needs to be strictly individualized with all the risks taken into consideration. Further studies are needed to examine the role of novel therapeutic options in the elderly population with RPGN.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 208-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald B. Appel ◽  
Wai L. Lau

As the population worldwide ages, the epidemic of kidney disease will also increase. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) positive rapidly progressive positive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is the most common etiology for biopsied patients among the very elderly. Its pathological features and clinical course are well described, though there is still debate about the mechanism of injury involved in individual patients. From very ancient times, the cornerstone of treatment historically has been high-dose cyclophosphamide and a lengthy course of high-dose corticosteroids. Although this regimen has diminished the immediate mortality rate of RPGN, its intermediate and long-term adverse effects are not insignificant. Attempts to minimize toxicity and improve efficacy have been made through the years to allow physicians some options for therapy. Lower cumulative cyclophosphamide regimens, shorter corticosteroid courses, and the introduction of rituximab have modified the armamentarium for treatment of ANCA positive RPGN. As progress is made in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of this disease, new targets will be found for potential therapeutic attack. The complement system is an area of active interest for all glomerular diseases at this time. Indeed, animal studies and preliminary human studies suggest that targeting the complement system can ameliorate the course of ANCA-positive RPGN. Hopefully, as the population ages, we will see more and safer therapeutic options to treat this once rapidly fatal disease.


1996 ◽  
Vol 72 (843) ◽  
pp. 41-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Higgins ◽  
D. J. Goldsmith ◽  
J. Connolly ◽  
J. E. Scoble ◽  
B. M. Hendry ◽  
...  

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. e0236017
Author(s):  
Mayumi Takahashi-Kobayashi ◽  
Joichi Usui ◽  
Shuzo Kaneko ◽  
Hitoshi Sugiyama ◽  
Kosaku Nitta ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
J. Jacob ◽  
M.F.M. Ismail

Ultrastructural changes have been shown to occur in the urinary bladder epithelium (urothelium) during the life span of humans. With increasing age, the luminal surface becomes more flexible and develops simple microvilli-like processes. Furthermore, the specialised asymmetric structure of the luminal plasma membrane is relatively more prominent in the young than in the elderly. The nature of the changes at the luminal surface is now explored by lectin-mediated adsorption visualised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Samples of young adult (21-31 y old) and elderly (58-82 y old) urothelia were fixed in buffered 2% glutaraldehyde for 10 m and washed with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing Ca++ and Mg++ at room temperature. They were incubated overnight at 4°C in 0.1 M ammonium chloride in PBS to block any remaining aldehyde groups. The samples were then allowed to stand in PBS at 37°C for 2 h before incubation at 37°C for 30 m with lectins. The lectins used were concanavalin A (Con A), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) at a concentration of 500 mg/ml in PBS at pH 7.A.


1988 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 516-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Mann ◽  
TJ Bomberg ◽  
JM Holtzman ◽  
DB Berkey
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Angel L. Ball ◽  
Adina S. Gray

Pharmacological intervention for depressive symptoms in institutionalized elderly is higher than the population average. Among the patients on such medications are those with a puzzling mix of symptoms, diagnosed as “dementia syndrome of depression,” formerly termed “pseudodementia”. Cognitive-communicative changes, potentially due to medications, complicate the diagnosis even further. This discussion paper reviews the history of the terminology of “pseudodementia,” and examines the pharmacology given as treatment for depressive symptoms in the elderly population that can affect cognition and communication. Clinicians can reduce the risk of misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment by having an awareness of potential side effects, including decreased attention, memory, and reasoning capacities, particularly due to some anticholinergic medications. A team approach to care should include a cohesive effort directed at caution against over-medication, informed management of polypharmacology, enhancement of environmental/communication supports and quality of life, and recognizing the typical nature of some depressive signs in elderly institutionalized individuals.


Haemophilia ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Godreuil ◽  
R. Navarro ◽  
P. Quittet ◽  
L. Landreau ◽  
J-F. Schved ◽  
...  

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