[Three adult cases of severe acute glomerulonephritis with acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis].

Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) typically recovers within 2 weeks with conservative therapy, but severe cases are known to develop acute renal failure and or nephrotic syndrome. We experienced 3 adult cases of APSGN with acute renal failure. All 3 cases required hemodialysis, 2 cases received double filtration plasmapheresis, and 2 cases received steroid therapy. In all cases, renal biopsy specimens showed endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis. One case had 25% cellular crescents and the others showed wide subendothelial deposits. There were no tubulointerstitial lesions. These 3 cases of severe APSGN with acute renal failure showed the benefits of combination therapy, hemodialysis, double filtration plasmapheresis and steroid therapy. Further clinical study is required to determine which therapy, double filtration plasmapheresis or steroid therapy, is useful.