title: Clinical impact of renal biopsy on outcomes in elderly patients with nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The number of elderly patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) is increasing. This study aimed to assess the implications of renal biopsy on the outcomes in elderly patients with NS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-nine patients diagnosed with NS who were over 60 years of age were reviewed. Secondary NS related to diabetes was excluded. Histopathological diagnosis, comparison of outcomes between the biopsied group (n = 64) and the nonbiopsied group (n = 35) and factors affecting renal survival were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The biopsied group was significantly younger and had better renal function than the nonbiopsied group. More patients in the biopsied group than in the nonbiopsied group received immunosuppressive treatment (76.6 vs. 42.9%, p < 0.005), and achieved complete remission (45.3 vs. 26.5%, p = 0.013). The complication rates and renal survival rates were not different between the two groups, but the patient survival rates were significantly higher in the biopsied group (p < 0.005). Predictors for renal survival were renal function at diagnosis and response to treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Renal biopsy is essential for a correct diagnosis and directed therapeutic approach in elderly patients with NS and may improve the clinical outcomes of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Eun
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Mi Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Young Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bum Soon
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Byung Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young Ok
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sun Ae
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Yong Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chul Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents