Gerontology & Geriatric Research

Abstract

A Review of Chronic Kidney Disease and the Immune System: A Special Form of Immunosenescence

Hsin-Wen Hsu, Cheng-Lin Lang, Min-Hui Wang, Chih-Kang Chiang and Kuo-Cheng Lu

Immune dysregulation is a common problem and immunosenescence plays a major role in the aged population. Many chronic inflammatory diseases have the same effect in the aged such as chronic HIV-treated patients, tuberculosis patients or those with chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease patients have a high incidence of vascular calcification, accelerated atherosclerosis, loss of appetite, increased muscle catabolism, renal osteodystrophy, and a high prevalence of depression because of the dysregulation of the immune system. These patients have different immune system manifestations compared with aged individuals of the same age; moreover, many geriatric syndromes are observed in this group. This review is an analysis from the nephrology perspective on the relationship between chronic kidney disease and the immune system.