Comparative effects of heparin, urokinase, and ancrod on intraglomerular coagulation induced in progressive Masugi nephritis.

Effects of heparin, urokinase, and ancrod were concurrently compared on intraglomerular coagulation using a model of progressive Masugi nephritis. Evaluations were performed with light and immunofluorescent microscopy. Treatment significantly reduced crescent formation, more markedly with ancrod. In contrast, endocapillary proliferation was enhanced in the groups treated with urokinase and, especially, ancrod. Ancrod appeared to be most effective in decreasing the glomerular deposition of fibrinogen-related materials as judged from the immunofluorescence, and a relatively high dose was required for urokinase to be comparable with ancrod. However, in some glomeruli from two of 13 animals given ancrod, mesangiolytic lesion developed. Thus, although promising, ancrod has many problems to be solved before using it to control endocapillary proliferation and mesangiolysis.