Effectiveness of Plasmapheresis in a Patient with Anti-glomerular Basement Membrane Antibody Glomerulonephritis with Advanced Kidney Dysfunction

  • Usui Toshiaki
    Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
  • Kai Hirayasu
    Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
  • Noguchi Kazuyuki
    Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
  • Morito Naoki
    Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
  • Usui Joichi
    Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
  • Saito Chie
    Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
  • Uesugi Noriko
    Department of Kidney and Vascular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
  • Nagata Michio
    Department of Kidney and Vascular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
  • Yamagata Kunihiro
    Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

Search this article

Abstract

<p>Patients with anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody glomerulonephritis (anti-GBM GN) have severe kidney dysfunction, leading to end-stage renal disease. The effect of plasmapheresis and immunosuppressive treatment in patients with severe glomerular changes is controversial. A 62-year-old man was admitted with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and diagnosed with anti-GBM GN. He required hemodialysis. All glomeruli in the kidney biopsy specimen had cellular crescents without fibrotic changes, suggesting reversible damage. He was treated with plasmapheresis until the anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies disappeared. His kidney function recovered, and dialysis was able to be discontinued. Frequent plasmapheresis in patients with dialysis-dependent anti-GBM GN may improve the kidney prognosis. </p>

Journal

  • Internal Medicine

    Internal Medicine 56 (18), 2475-2479, 2017

    The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine

References(6)*help

See more

Details

Report a problem

Back to top