PLASMAPHERESIS TREATMENT OF MALIGNANT GLO MERULONEPHRITIS

Twenty patients with rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis (RPGN) age d 16-50 underwent plasmapheresis (PA) as adjuvant to immunodepressants . Of these, 9 patients had lupous, 4 Bright RPGN, 4 and 3 patients com bined glomerulonephritis with. hemorrhagic vasculitis and Wegener gran ulomatosis, respectively. A total of 130 procedures were performed (3- 13 per each patient). The results of PA treatment included complete re covery of renal function in 8 and partial in 10 patients (3 of them co uld stop hemodialysis), death of pulmonary edema. (2 cases). The autho rs think advisable to combine immunodepressants with PA, especially wh en the drugs are contraindicated, in patients with malignant glomerulo nephritis.