Antenatal plasma exchange therapy.

A 22-year-old primigravida with severe mesangiocapillary gomerulonephritis presented at 10 weeks gestation for antenatal care. Delivery of a small health infant was achieved by caesarean section at term. The successful outcome of this pregnancy was attributed to the careful control of anaemia, oedema, and hypertension; and to the use of plasma-exchange therapy throughout the third trimester. The value of plasma exchange therapy in pregnancies which are complicated by renal disease is discussed.