Water and salt metabolism in the geriatric syndromes

MUSSO, CARLOS GUIDO; VILAS, MANUEL

Rev Electron Biomed

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

Año: 2010

Geriatrics has already described four syndromes of its own: confusional syndrome, incontinence (fecal and/or urinary), and gait disorders and immobility syndrome, naming them geriatric giants. This name reflects their prevalence and great importance in the elderly. Ageing process induces many changes in renal physiology such as a reduction in glomerular filtration rate (senile hyponatremia), and water and sodium reabsorbtion capability. Besides, there are particular water and salt metabolism alteration characteristics of the geriatric syndromes, such as dehydration and hypernatremia in psychiatric disturbances as well as hyponatremia in patients suffering from immobility syndrome. The geriatric giants and nephrogeriatric physiology changes,are a good example of feed-back between geriatric syndromes, clinical entities characteristics in the elderly that predispose and potentiate each other, leading to catastrophic clinical events.