ACUTE AND CHRONIC KIDNEY-DISEASE

The presentation of many renal diseases in older adults is remarkably similar to that in younger patients, although the symptoms and clinica l findings are frequently attributed to diseases of aging. Since older patients often respond to treatment as well as younger patients do, t hey deserve a thorough investigation, including renal biopsy when indi cated. It is important to base decisions regarding access to evaluatio n and treatment, quality of life, and initiation of termination of dia lysis on strong moral and ethical grounds.