Should We Still Use Therapeutic Plasma Exchange for Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis in ANCA Associated Vasculitis?

Abstract

For over thirty-five years, available data suggested that therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) was a useful treatment for patients with Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis (RPGN) associated with ANCA Associated Vasculitis (AAV) and elevated creatinine levels. The publication of the PEXIVAS study has challenged this conclusion. This perspective will outline the history of this issue and present our assessment of the current status.

Keywords

• therapeutic plasma exchange
• PLEX
• RPGN
• ANCA
• PEXIVAS