Plasmapheresis in the treatment of renal allograft rejection.
Thirty-four patients with renal allograft rejection unresponsive to conventional therapy underwent plasmapheresis. Twenty-four patients evidenced prompt and marked improvement and were discharged. Seventeen of these are presently stable off dialysis. Ten patients were not improved and required return to dialysis and/or transplant nephrectomy. Four hour warm, complement-dependent crossmatches which had become positive following transplant became negative following plasmapheresis in 3 patients who now have stable long-term function. Plasmapheresis appears promising in the treatment of refractory acute renal allograft rejection.
D002102:Cadaver; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009392:Nephrectomy; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D006493:Heparin; D008775:Methylprednisolone