[Renal puncture biopsy in the aged subject: apropos of 119 cases].

We reviewed 119 renal biopsies performed between 1964 and 1982 on adults aged 60 or more. The two main indications wer: renal failure (35/119) and nephrotic syndrome (35/119). Histology showed: primary glomerular diseases (76/119), systemic diseases with renal involvement (31/119), arteriosclerosis only (5/19), tubulo-interstitial nephritis only (5/119). No obvious lesion was seen in 2 cases. Additional arteriosclerosis was observed in 21 cases and additional tubulo-interstitial nephritis in 6 cases. Primary glomerular diseases consisted mainly in diffuse membranous glomerulonephritis (18/76). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (7/31) and amyloidosis (6/31) represented most of the systemic diseases with renal involvement. The usefulness of renal biopsy in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of a wide variety of renal diseases in elderly adults is demonstrated.