The Effect of Long Term High Dose Heparin Treatment on the Course of Chronic Proliferative Glomerulonephritis

Abstract

18 patients with biopsy proven chronic proliferative glomerulonephritis have been studied, 10 of the 18 received daily subcutaneous injections of depo-heparin until death or for a period of at least 1 year. 8 of the 10 patients so treated demonstrated significant improvement in renal function as measured by serial determination of endogenous creatinine clearance, Addis count, protein permeability index, and renal biopsy. 1 patient with severely impaired function prior to heparin therapy did not improve, but renal function remained stable during the period of treatment. 8 of the 10 control patients were followed adequately for evaluation. Of these 8, 6 demonstrated progressive diminution of renal function, 4 expired in renal failure; in addition, 1 control patient followed too sporadically to include in the study is known to have died of renal failure.