Renal prostaglandins, effective renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate in healthy elderly subjects.

This study tests the hypothesis that the age-associated reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and the presence of glomerulosclerosis renders effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) prostaglandin dependent. Ten healthy elderly volunteers were studied in a single-blind placebo-controlled manner using indomethacin to suppress the renal prostaglandins. There was no significant difference in ERPF or GFR following indomethacin when compared with placebo. These results suggest that blocking renal prostaglandins does not significantly alter ERPF or GFR in healthy elderly people.