[Prognosis of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis: the influence of age]

The evolution and prognosis of extracapillary glomerulonephritis were compared in two cohorts of patients treated between 1981 and 1986 (n = 39) and between 1989 and 1991 (n = 30). In the first group, the classical immunosuppressive treatment (steroids and cyclophosphamide) was given daily and combined with plasma exchanges. In the second group, IV pulses of methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide were administered, followed by daily low-dose steroid therapy. Plasma exchanges were performed only in cases of extrarenal disease, particularly pulmonary hemorrhage. Although the two groups are not strictly similar, it could be concluded that aggressive immunosuppression including plasma exchanges impairs the vital prognosis by inducing infectious and/or hemorrhagic complications, especially in the elderly. On the other hand, methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide pulses appear to have effectively treated extracapillary glomerulonephritis and were well tolerated. Thus they could be administered to all patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, including aged patients.