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H Nachtergaele

Publications and source records attributed to H Nachtergaele.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1987

Causes and prognosis of acute renal failure in elderly patients.

In this retrospective study, 287 patients with acute renal failure observed between 1980 and 1985 were divided into 2 groups, according to age: group 1 of 65 years or more (n = 100) and group 2 between 17 and 64 years (n = 187). In both age groups the whole spectrum of causes of acute renal failure was found, but within that spectrum a higher incidence of post-renal failure, acute renal vascular disease and of hypovolaemic acute renal failure was noted in group 1 versus group 2. On the other hand, pigment-induced acute renal failure was lower in group 1 (4%) versus group 2 (13%). The overall survival was 54% in the elderly versus 56% in the younger patients (NS). A close relationship between survival and the number of postadmission complications was found in both groups. Interestingly, the presence of severe hypokalaemia (less than 3.5 mmol/l) and metabolic alkalosis (plasma HCO3 greater than 30 mmol/l) was associated with a very high mortality of 73% and 86% respectively in the elderly patients. Complete or incomplete recovery of renal function was the same in both age groups. It is concluded that age alone should not be used as a discriminating factor in therapeutic decisions concerning acute renal failure in an older patient.

Acute Kidney Injury↗