title: Nephrotic syndrome and plasmapheresis.
abstract: We studied 15 patients suffering from nephrotic syndrome (NS) in bioptically-accertained primary and secondary glomerulopathies responding poorly to the common pharmacological treatment. They were monitored for one year by assessing their immunological and kidney functionality parameters, especially proteinuria. The patients underwent 3 apheretic sittings using the cascade double-filtration technique. After the third apheretic sitting the patients received metilprednisolone 300 mg/m2. This therapy was repeated every month for 6 months. At the end of the apheretic cycle it was shown that all patients had responded well to the therapy with a dramatic decrease in proteinuria, maintenance and/or recuperation of kidney functionality and improvement of lipidic asset; these data remained unchanged over time. Considering our preliminary results, we believe that therapeutic apheresis has a precise function in refractory nephrotic syndrome and, in particular, we propose the use of the cascade double-filtration technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Institute of Clinica Medica I, University of Roma La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonello
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bauco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tedaldi
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bisciglia
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vitaliano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DePaola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000150:complications; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone