Recovery of renal function in a dialysis-dependent patient with microscopic polyangiitis and both myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies

Intern Med. 2011;50(15):1599-603. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.50.4939. Epub 2011 Aug 1.

Abstract

A 40-year-old man with microscopic polyangiitis developed both myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (90 EU) and anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies (134 EU)-positive rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Although the patient initially showed no signs of improvement, persistent therapy including 1 g/day intravenous methylprednisolone, 50 mg/day oral prednisolone, plasma exchange, and 900 mg/day intravenous cyclophosphamide resulted in the normalization of both titers, recovery of renal function, and discontinuation of dialysis. Though previous studies showed poor outcomes in such "double-positive" patients, aggressive immunosuppression in younger patients may result in the recovery of renal function, even in those with severe renal dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / blood*
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Glomerular Basement Membrane / immunology
  • Heparin / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Male
  • Methylprednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Microscopic Polyangiitis / immunology*
  • Microscopic Polyangiitis / physiopathology
  • Microscopic Polyangiitis / therapy*
  • Peroxidase / immunology
  • Plasma Exchange
  • Prednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Renal Dialysis
  • Thrombocytopenia / chemically induced

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • antiglomerular basement membrane antibody
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Heparin
  • Prednisolone
  • Peroxidase
  • Methylprednisolone