Pulmonary-Renal Syndrome, Diffuse PulmonaryHemorrhage and Glomerulonephritis, Associatedwith Wegener's Granulomatosis EffectivelyTreated with Early Plasma Exchange Therapy

Abstract

We present a case of a 38-year-old Japanese man with Wegeners granulomatosis complicated with pulmonary-renal syndrome, i.e., diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage and rapidly progressive renal glomerulonephritis. As this is a life-threatening condition, we promptly initiated plasma exchange with intravenous methylprednisolone therapy. Diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage and renal failure were markedly improved. This case merits presentation because there are few clinical studies of the treatment of Wegeners granulomatosis with pulmonary-renal syndrome, particularly with pulmonary hemorrhage.