Abstract
Weil's disease, an infectious disease by Leptospira haemorrhogica, is often found in farmers and cooks who are frequently exposed to the virus contained in urine or stool of wild rats. Recently, a few cases have been reported in Japan. A 23 old male cook was admitted to our hospital with fever, general fatigue, jaundice, and myalgia of the lower extremities which are thought to be charactaristic symptoms of the disease. When he was hospitalized, he was conscious, but showed renal insufficiency, such as oliguria and elevated serum BUN level, suggesting a severely advanced stage. These refractory symptoms were rapidly alleviated by 4 times plasmapheresis for the treatment of jaundice and renal insufficiency. The patient recovered completely on the 60 th hospitalized day. Various symptoms, especially jaundice and the renal failure, of Weil's disease are considered to be induced by Leptospira toxin. Plasmapheresis is the most effective therapy for the treatment of severe conditions of this disease, because this treatment may eliminate the toxic substance from the plasma.
