Abstract
Background and Aims
The increase in life expectancy has led to increasing numbers of elderly patients in all medical disciplines, particularly in nephrology. Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is common in the elderly and can lead to significant morbidity and mortality because of the complication of nephrotic syndrome (NS) and immunosuppressive therapy. The aim of this study is to analyze the diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary approach of IMN in elderly patiets.
Method
We conducted a retrospective descriptive study in the nephrology department at Charles Nicolle hospital over a period of 44 years. All older patients (≥65 years) with histologically proven MN were included in this study. Data collected included demographic, clinical and biological parameters in each patient. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS software.
Results
Twenty-eight patients were collected. The mean age was 67.03 years (65-78 years) with a male predominance (sex ratio: 2.3) and low socio-economic level in 82.5% of cases. Sixteen patients were smokers (57.14%), 5 ethyl patients (17.8%), diabetes was present in 3 patients (10.7%) and hypertension in 11 patients (39.28%). Two cases of neoplasm were present, namely one case of prostatic adenocarcinoma and one case of gallbladder adenocarcinoma, all were diagnosed and treated along one year and ten years respectively, before the diagnosis of MN. The circumstances of discovery were dominated by oedema in 27 cases (86.27%), hypertension in 11 cases (39.28%) and elevated creatinine level in 9 cases (32.14%). Deep venous thrombosis was the circumstance of discovery in one case. At the time of diagnosis, the clinico-biological picture was dominated by high systolic blood pressure in 21 cases (75%), anasarca in 7 cases (25%), proteinuria in all cases and hematuria in 20 cases (71.14%). Biology revealed nephrotic syndrome (NS) in all cases, hypercholesterolemia in 23 cases (82.14%), high serum creatinine in 14 cases (50%) with an average creatinine level of 127,95 µmol/l, anemia in 17 cases (60.7%) and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were positive in one case. MN was confirmed by a kidney biopsy in all cases. Symptomatic treatment was indicated in all patients. Immunosuppressive therapy was started early in 12 patients (40%) because of the severe NS and the deterioration of renal function. Eight patients (26.6%) received corticosteroids alone (group 1), three patients received corticosteroid with mycofenolate mofetil (group 2) and one patient received corticosteroid with ciclosporin (group3). Fourteen patients received only symptomatic treatment (group 4). We noted partial remission in group 3, however complete remission in 37.5%, 14.28% and 12.5% from respectively group 1, group 4 and group 2. The side effects of immunosuppressive therapy were infectious complication in 8 patients (28.5%), osteoporosis in 3 patients (10.7%) and Steroid diabetes in one case. The side effects of NS were thrombotic complication in 5 patients (17.85%). Two patients had presented coronary syndrome and two other patients had presented hepatitis C. Two cases of death were noted whose etiology was pulmonary infection in one patient and undeterminate etiology in the other case.
Conclusion
Treatment of IMN in older patients has unique challenges, reducing the need for renal replacement therapy. Most studies report that the elderly respond to therapy with rates comparable with younger patients but in the other hand elderly are more susceptible to side effects of immunosuppressive therapy.
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