Plasmapheresis induced recovery from renal failure in mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis of acute onset.

Plasmapheresis (PE) was used in the treatment of three patients with biopsy proven mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (MCGN) of acute onset and renal failure. The percent of glomeruli with extracapillary proliferation varied from 40 to 90 per cent. Following PE, there were reductions in serum creatinine of 66 per cent, 61 per cent and 82 per cent in patients, one, two and three respectively. Plasmapheresis proved effective in a second episode of renal failure in patient three. After the completion of PE, renal function has remained stable in all patients for periods ranging from two to 12 months. However, haematuria and heavy proteinuria persist in every case. PE appears to facilitate recovery from renal failure in MCGN of acute onset, possibly by removing circulating mediators of acute inflammatory glomerular damage.