Goodpasture's disease: a case series
Dugo, M.; Pasi, A.; Gatti, P.L.; Mastrosimone, S.; Laurino, L.; Barberio, G.; Farneti, F.; Facchini, C.; Maresca, M.C.
Giornale Italiano di Nefrologia: Organo Ufficiale Della Societa Italiana di Nefrologia 31(1)
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 1724-5990 PMID: 24671842 Document Number: 673901
Goodpasture's disease (GD) is an uncommon and severe autoimmune disorder caused by circulating autoantibodies directed against the glomerular basement membrane cross-reacting with the alveolar basement membrane. GD is clinically characterized by rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, often associated with pulmonary hemorrhage representing a nephrological emergency. We present the clinical features of 9 cases, diagnosed in 1997-2012, in our Renal Unit. Contrary to previous reports, we found a predominance of GD in females and we observed unusual clinical patterns, such as the association with renal vein thrombosis in a pregnant patient, thrombosis of the pulmonary arteries and a late isolated recurrence of alveolitis. In dialysis-dependent patients, renal transplantation can represent an available treatment option.