Goodpasture‘s syndrome constitutes triad of glomerulonephritis, Pulmonaty hemorrhage and antibody to basement membrane antigens. Its etiology is unknown.
It affects people at any age. Patient generally presents with cough, breathing difficulty and haemoptysis.
Anti-GBH antibodies react with an antigen in the glomerular basement membrane producing necrotizing glomerulonephritis. Rapidly progressive renal failure may occur.
Circulating antibodies to glycopeptide antigens are found. About 85 per cent of patients are HLA-DR2 antigen positive.
The course of the Goodpasture‘s syndrome disease is variable. Prednisolone (10 mg/kg/body weight) given over short periods produces remission. Early initiation of treatment is especially important.
In advanced cases plasma exchange along with cytotoxic drugs and corticosteroids is employed. If there is irreversible damage to the kidneys, these patients have to be put on regular hemodialysis. Some may even require renal transplantation.
