[Programmed hemodialysis in middle and old age]

28 patients treated by programmed hemodialysis (PH) were followed up from 1985 to 1991. All the patients were over 60 years old. 16 patients died within month 1-60 since PH initiation. Overall PH duration for the whole group reached 24.6 +/- 3.58 months. Pretreatment urea and creatinine in plasma of senile patients were significantly lower than in young patients not resulting, though, in uremia reduction. The findings show that it is not valid to consider creatinine a determinant for starting hemodialysis in senile patients. Despite multimorbidity, more rapid progression of atherosclerosis and complicated establishment of the vascular approach, senile patients successfully adapt to PH regimen, need less numerous weekly PH hours. By anemia manifestations, incidence of hyperparathyroidism and polyneuropathy, senile patients did not differ much from their younger counterparts.