Clinics in geriatric medicine
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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly being recognized as a disease of elderly individuals. In recent years the definition and categorization of kidney disease has been standardized. ⋯ This article addresses the definitions of CKD, recently published revised CKD stages with risk stratifications, and limitations of using formulas to assess renal function in the elderly. Also discussed are management of common risk factors of progression CKD, nonrenal-related outcomes, prognosis of CKD in older individuals, and criteria for referral to nephrology.
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During the last 2 decades, the number of kidney transplants performed in the candidates older than 65 years has grown dramatically. For selected geriatric patients with end-stage kidney failure, kidney transplantation has emerged as a potential option for treatment of their end organ failure. Aging is associated with functional changes to the immune system known as immunosenescence, and this age-related decline in immune function has important implications for immunosuppression in this subgroup of kidney transplant recipients.