Immunoadsorption in Goodpasture's syndrome

Patients with Goodpasture's syndrome presenting with dialysis-dependent end -stage renal failure at diagnosis almost never regain independent renal fun ction. We report a patient with a 100% crescentic lesion in whom reversal o f dialysis dependence was achieved by immunoadsorption together with immuno suppression. In a second patient, early initiation of immunoadsorption was able to completely restore normal renal function as early as 1 month after the start of treatment. These data give evidence of the use of immunoadsorp tion as a hopeful alternative to conventional plasma exchange in patients w ith Goodpasture's syndrome showing advanced renal failure. (C) 2000 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.