Goodpasture's syndrome

Alternative names:

anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody disease; glomerulonephritis-pulmonary hemorrhage; lung purpura-glomerulonephritis; pulmonary - renal syndrome; rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with pulmonary hemorrhage

Symptoms:

• bloody urine
• dark colored urine
• decreased urine output
• foamy urine
• cough with bloody sputum (coughing up blood)
• difficulty breathing after exertion
• weakness
• general discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
• fatigue
• nausea/vomiting
• weight loss
• nonspecific chest pain
• pale skin

Signs and tests:

Auscultation of the lungs may indicate fluid (from bleeding in the lungs). Occasionally, blood pressure may be high. Edema (swelling) of the body may develop as kidney function deteriorates. Skin rash may be observed in some cases.

• A CBC often indicates anemia.
• Serum iron and ferritin may be low.
• BUN and creatinine levels increase as kidney function decreases.
• A urinalysis may show protein, blood, casts or other abnormality.
• Serum antibody to normal human glomerular basement membrane is positive.
• Sputum stain may indicate macrophages (immune system cells that respond to the presence of antibodies) that contain iron pigments.
• A chest X-ray shows fluid in the lung tissues.
• A lung needle biopsy shows immune system deposits.
• A kidney biopsy shows immune system deposits, with crescentic (shaped like a "new moon") deposits indicating rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.