[Aging and kidneys: problems in evaluating of the glomerular filtration rate in elderly.]

Aging causes significant changes in the kidneys. One of the most important manifestations of an aging kidney is a reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Unfortunately, there is no generally accepted, adequate method for evaluating GFR in the elderly. The perspectivies of the relatively new approaches (BIS1, BIS2, FAS) are not clear and doubtful. The feasibility of standardization of GFR values by body surface area among of the older persons has not been determined. Possible that the diagnosis setting «chronic kidney disease» in elderly solely on the base of GFR decline may be an inadequate approach and promote a kind of «nephrological ageism».