Plasmapheresis in the Treatment of Kidney Diseases

Abstract

Plasmapheresis treatment was performed in patients with lupus nephritis (17), IgA nephropathy (13), membranous glomerulonephritis (4), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (5) and anti-GMB glomerulonephritis (5). The standard regimen of plasma substitution was applied (3 replacements on 3 successive days, followed by a 30-day interval). Individual patients have been treated for 4 years. Plasmapheresis and immunosuppression had beneficial effects on clinical manifestations of the disease.

The paper also examines the effects of plasmapheresis on the concentration of anti-GBM anti bodies, immune complexes, immune reaction mediators and a series of immunological and other laboratory parameters.