Jarrousse B, Guillevin L, Gie S, Bletry O, Barrier J, Cassuto-Viguier E, Ang K S, Besancenot J F, Sobel A
Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny.
Ann Med Interne (Paris). 1988;139 Suppl 1:23-5.
Fourteen patients with polyarteritis nodosa complicated by histologically confirmed glomerulopathies were included in a prospective multi-center study comparing corticotherapy (group 1, n = 8) with combined cyclophosphamide and steroids (group 2, n = 6). Plasma exchanges were associated on a routine basis. The two groups were comparable apart from initially more severe renal impairment in group 1 (p less than 0.05). Initial control of the disease was obtained in 11 patients (7 from group 1, 4 from group 2) including the patients with oligoanuria. Six patients recovered, 3 had recurrence requiring chronic hemodialysis and 5 patients died from group 1 (p less than 0.05). These preliminary findings suggest that plasma exchange can contribute to control of polyarteritis nodosa with renal complications.
