title: Defibrination with ancrod in glomerulonephritis: effects on clinical and histologic findings and on blood coagulation.
abstract: Ancrod, which produces in vivo defibrination, has been shown to improve renal function and decrease fibrin deposition and crescents in experimental glomerulonephritis. Ancrod was given for 14 days to 5 patients with glomerulonephritis, moderate to severe renal functional impairment, crescents, and/or fibrin deposition in glomeruli. 4 patients had systemic lupus erythematosus. Ancrod treatment resulted in fibrinogen levels less than 50 mg/dl without bleeding, decrease of previously elevated factor VIII and von Willebrand factor levels, and normalization of in vitro platelet hyperaggregation. Renal function improved in all 5 patients. Serial renal biopsies showed a relatively rapid decrease of glomerular thrombi and necrosis and little increase in glomerular sclerosis. Ancrod administration appears safe, and may have a role in treatment of certain types of glomerulonephritis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000721:Ancrod / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D005169:Factor VIII; D005337:Fibrin; D005340:Fibrinogen; D000721:Ancrod