Recurrent type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in a renal allograft: successful treatment with plasmapheresis.

Recurrent disease is increasingly recognized as a cause of renal allograft dysfunction and failure. We describe a patient with type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis not associated with hepatitis C. The glomerular disease recurred in the renal allograft within 1 month of transplantation, leading to acute allograft dysfunction and nephrotic syndrome. Aggressive treatment with prednisone and plasmapheresis resulted in improvement in kidney function, improvement of the light microscopic picture, and removal of immune complexes from the glomerular subendothelial space.