Renal management of sodium under indomethacin and aldosterone in the elderly

The tubular handling of sodium in two groups of healthy old people, under the action of indomethacin and aldosterone was studied. Urinary aldosterone elimination was measured. From the results obtained, it is deduced that the elderly lose sodium through incompetence of the distal nephron. The possibility is put forward of a Na-K-ATPase deficit and/or interstitial fibrosis as being related to salt losses.