Glomerular disease in elderly Moroccans.

In Morocco, a 20-year increase in life expectancy was recorded between 1962 and 1994 and biopsies are being increasingly performed in elderly patients . Thirty-one elderly patients investigated by renal biopsy over an 11-year period were studied retrospectively. Of the 12 cases (38.7%) of primary glo merular disease, six (19.35%) were minimal-change glomerulopathies, four (1 2.90%) were membranous glomerulopathies, and two (6.45%) were membranoproli ferative glomerulopathies. The 19 cases of secondary glomerulopathy were di stributed as follows: amyloidosis, n = 11 (35.48%); diabetic glomeruloscler osis, n = 4(12.90%); membranoproliferative glomerulopathy due to cryoglobul inemia, n = 2 (6.46%);and membranous glomerulopathy secondary to malignant melanoma (n = 1) or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use (n = 1). No majo r biopsy-related complications were recorded. The distribution of causes di d not differ from that in earlier studies except For the predominance of se condary amyloidosis; In elderly patients, renal biopsy is as useful as in y ounger adults for establishing an accurate diagnosis. The risk of complicat ions does not increase with advancing age provided contraindications are ob served.