Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis

Alternative Names

Treatment

Treatment depends on the underlying cause.

Corticosteroids may relieve symptoms in some cases. Medications that suppress the immune system may also be prescribed, depending on the cause.

A procedure called plasmapheresis may relieve the symptoms in some cases. The fluid part of the blood containing antibodies is removed and replaced with intravenous fluids or donated plasma (without antibodies). The removal of antibodies may reduce inflammation in the kidney tissues.

Persons with this condition should be closely watched for signs of progression to kidney failure. Dialysis or a kidney transplant may ultimately be necessary.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Without treatment, crescentic glomerulonephritis often worsens rapidly to kidney failure and end-stage kidney disease in 6 months or less, although a few cases may just go away on their own.

Those who receive treatment may recover some or rarely all of their original kidney function. The extent of recovery is related to the degree of kidney function at diagnosis and degree of crescent formation. The disorder may recur.

If the disease occurs in childhood, it is likely that kidney failure will eventually develop.

Possible Complications

• Congestive heart failure
• Pulmonary edema
• Hyperkalemia
• Acute renal failure
• Chronic renal failure
• End-stage renal disease

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if symptoms indicate rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis may be present.

If you have this disorder, call if new symptoms develop, especially irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing, increased edema, or decreased urine production.