Plasmapheresis in the treatment of glomerulonephritis.

Nine patients with various forms of glomerulonephritis were treated by repeated plasmapheresis which was combined with immunosuppression, and anticoagulant therapy. Improvement in renal function occurred in the seven patients in whom there had been rapid deterioration in renal function. Two patients with gradually deteriorating renal function failed to respond. Plasmapheresis may exert its beneficial effects both by depletion of circulating immune complexes or autoantibodies, and by depletion of important mediators of injury such as fibrinogen and complement.