title: Plasmapheresis in a patient with rapidly progressive idiopathic IgA nephropathy: removal of IgA-containing circulating immune complexes and clinical recovery.
abstract: Primary IgA nephropathy is generally considered a benign disease, but progression to renal failure is not uncommon and a rapidly progressive course is observed in some cases, especially when extensive epithelial crescents are present. Circulating IgA-containing immune complexes (IgAIC) seem to play the most important pathogenetical role, hence the authors adopted plasmapheretic treatment in association with immunosuppressive drugs for 1 patient affected by primary IgA nephritis, with florid crescents and progressive renal failure. IgAIC decreased significantly after each plasma exchange and finally returned to normal values; over the same period urinary protein loss and heavy microscopic hematuria gradually disappeared and renal function was completely recovered.
mesh_terms: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010956:Plasmapheresis
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex