The effects of defibrination with ancrod in experimental allergic glomerular injury

Quantitative studies of the effects of defibrination (with ancrod) have been undertaken in two forms of allergic glomerular damage, nephrotoxic serum nephritis and acute serum sickness in rabbits. No differences in intrarenal fixation of nephrotoxic antibody, complement activation or host antibody response were detected between defibrinated and untreated rabbits with nephrotoxic serum nephritis. Defibrination prevented intraglomerular fibrin deposition in this disease; but some glomerular damage as shown by a rise in blood urea and endothelial proliferation still occurred in defibrinated animals. No differences in immune elimination of BSA, circulating immune complex formation or intrarenal localization of immune complexes were noted in defibrinated animals with acute serum sickness. No intraglomerular fibrin deposition was detected in treated or untreated animals in this disease model. It is concluded that the protective effects of ancrod are directly related to defibrination, and not to any other modification of allergic events.