[Rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis. Spontaneous course and differential therapy with special reference to the infection-associated form].

Since 1971 we observed 31 patients with histologically proven rapidly progressive (crescentic) glomerulonephritis. At the onset of therapy 16 patients presented with end stage renal failure, the others with impaired renal function. 21 patients received combined immunosuppressive therapy, consisting of prednisone, cyclophosphamide and azathioprine. 8 patients were treated with membrane plasmapheresis, additionally. 10 patients received no specific therapy. After 5 years 13 patients were on hemodialysis, 4 had impaired renal function and 10 patients were dead. Two patients died due to the progression of underlying diseases, the others were lost following infectious diseases. There was no additional positive effect in the group treated with membrane plasma separation compared with patients treated only immunosuppressive. Only in 4 patients without specific therapy normalization of renal function occurred. In these patients RPGN appeared after an infectious disease. We conclude that an infectious disease associated RPGN is an own entity of glomerulonephritis that has a very good prognosis and needs only antibiotic therapy.