[Ischemic renal diseases have become the most frequent causes of end stage renal disease in the elderly].

In the 80s it was established that atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) is a leading cause of renal insufficiency and that this condition ranks among the rare etiologies of chronic renal failure amenable to improvement or stabilization particularly in the white. Nephroangiosclerosis (NAS) is an increasing cause of ESRD in the western countries, especially in blacks. Epidemiological data on the vascular nephropathies leading to ESRD are still rare. In this study, we compare annual incidence of ESRD due to ARAS and NAS during two five-year periods: period A = 1982-1986, period B = 1992-1996. The region of the survey comprised 410,664 inhabitants (99.6% of Caucasians), of whom 100,230 were aged over 60 years. Diagnosis of ARAS required arteriography and that of NAS a renal biopsy. Undetermined vascular nephropathy was diagnosed when ESRD patients had had previously no arteriography or no histological examination. Major results were as follow (A vs B, incidence = n/million inhabitants): 1) Increasing incidence of ESRD due to all causes: 76 vs 95 per million, mean age at ESRD 56 vs 62 yrs, percentage of patients over 65 yrs 28 to 59% (p < 0.001). 2) Increasing incidence of ESRD due to vascular nephropathies: 5.5 vs 27.5 per million (p < 0.0001) in general population and 22 vs 110 per million (p < 0.0001) in population aged over 60 years, mean age at ESRD 68 vs 73 yrs. 3) Increasing incidence of different types of ischemic renal diseases leading to ESRD: ARAS 2.5 vs 15 per million (p < 0.0001) in general population and 10 vs 60 per million (p < 0.001) in those aged over 60 yrs, mean age 69 vs 74 yrs, NAS: 1 vs 8 and 4 vs 32 per million (p < 0.001), mean age 67 vs 72 yrs, undetermined VN 0.5 vs 2.5 and 2 vs 10 per million, 65 vs 73 yrs. Our study demonstrates that ischemic renal diseases 1) have become the most frequent causes of ESRD (27% of all patients and 43% of those aged over 6C years) in the Caucasian elderly. 2) are the only cause of increasing incidence of ESRD in this French region.