RESUMEN
A total of 14 patients with acute rejection of transplanted kidney were treated with plasmapheresis (in combination with prednisolone supporting therapy in a dose of 15 mg/kg). For the arrest of the rejection it was necessary to use 4 sessions of plasmapheresis on average for each person (from 3 to 8 sessions). The average volume of discharged plasma, 2,000 ml approximately, was compensated with frozen plasma. Plasmapheresis was exercised by plasma separation with an "Asahi" plasma filter with the surface of 0.5 m2. Plasmapheresis successfully arrested the rejection in 50 per cent of the patients. Pathogenetic reasonability of plasmapheresis for the treatment of the aforementioned patients (elimination of toxins, circulating immune complexes, elevation of C3 and C4 components of the complement) was substantiated. In patients who had undergone plasmapheresis for the arrest of acute rejection, lowered levels of proteinuria were considered as a favourable prognostic sign.