Intermediate syndrome: a typical pattern of pre-renal acute renal failure in the elderly

MUSSO, CARLOS GUIDO; LUQUE, K.; REYNALDI, JULIANA; PIDOUX, R.; GRELONI, G.; ALGRANATI, LUIS

Electron J Biomed

MJ Coma MD, PhD. Unidad de Investigación. Hospital General Yagüe

Año: 2004

Acute renal failure is a frequent entity in the elderly. This is due on one hand to the structural and physiological changes of the aged kidney, and on the other hand to the exposure of this population to polypharmacy and their reduced capability to metabolize drugs.In the present report we present a case of a seventy year-old woman who developed acute renal failure secondary to severe dehydration with a clinical and laboratory pattern of intermediate syndrome: laboratory results compatible with parenchymal renal insufficiency (elevated urinary sodium, plasma urea and creatinine), but with a positive response to hydration. The main characteristics of the aged kidney that predispose to the development of an intermediate syndrome are: the vascular dysautonomy and reduced capability of sodium and water reabsorption. The intermediate syndrome is a typical pattern of pre-renal insufficiency in the elderly.