Use of Immunoadsorption and Plasma Exchange for Treating Anti–Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease: Clinical Experience in Germany

Anti–glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease presents with acute glomerulonephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage.1 In the absence of plasma exchange (PLEX) therapy and immunosuppression, anti-GBM disease typically takes on a lethal course.2 Immunoadsorption (IA) offers potential benefits over PLEX, as it selectively eliminates circulating antibodies without removing several important plasma components.3,4 However, in the context of anti-GBM disease it finds little recognition in contemporary literature.