Plasma exchange in the successful treatment of drug-induced renal disease

A 20-year-old girl with rheumatoid arthritis who has been treated with D-penicillamine for 7 months presented with fulminating Goodpasture's syndrome and a focal necrotising glomerulonephritis. A 35-year-old man who had been taking a low dose of phenytoin for epilepsy presented with nephrotic syndrome and a mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis. CH50, C3 and C4 were low and a high level of immune complexes was detected. Both patients had severe lesions which were unlikely to recover on immunosuppression alone so were treated with intensive plasma exchange. 2 patients are described with serious drug-induced renal disease who recovered with intensive plasma exchange and immunosuppression.