You are in: eMedicine Specialties > Nephrology > Glomerular Diseases Goodpasture SyndromeArticle Last Updated: Jan 30, 2007AUTHOR AND EDITOR INFORMATIONAuthor: Sat Sharma, MD, FRCPC, Professor and Head, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba; Site Director, Respiratory Medicine, St. Boniface General Hospital Sat Sharma is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Thoracic Society, Canadian Medical Association, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Royal Society of Medicine, Society of Critical Care Medicine, and World Medical Association Coauthor(s): Mauro Verrelli, MD, FRCPC, FACP, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada Editors: James W Lohr, MD, Fellowship Program Director, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, State University of New York at Buffalo; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine; Eleanor Lederer, MD, Consulting Staff, Louisville VA Hospital; Professor of Medicine, Director of Nephrology Training Program, Kidney Disease Program, University of Louisville School of Medicine; Director, Metabolic Stone Clinic; Rebecca J Schmidt, DO, FACP, FASN, Professor of Medicine, Section Chief, Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology, West Virginia University School of Medicine; Vecihi Batuman, MD, FACP, FASN, Professor of Medicine, Section of Nephrology-Hypertension, Tulane University School of Medicine; Chief, Medicine Service, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System Author and Editor Disclosure Synonyms and related keywords: Goodpasture disease, anti–glomerular basement membrane disease, anti-GBM disease, pulmonary hemorrhage, glomerulonephritis, autoimmune disorders, end-stage renal disease, ESRD, diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage, glomerulonephritis, circulating antiglomerular basement membrane antibodies INTRODUCTIONBackgroundGoodpasture syndrome is an eponym used to describe the triad of diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage, glomerulonephritis, and circulating anti–glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibodies. Goodpasture first described the disorder in 1919. He reported a case of pulmonary hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis during an influenza epidemic. In 1955, Parkin described 3 cases of lung hemorrhage and nephritis that occurred in the absence of arteritis. In 1958, Stanton and Tang reported a series of young men with pulmonary hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis, similar to Goodpasture's original description. The discovery of anti-GBM antibodies in 1967 led to the understanding of the pathogenesis of Goodpasture syndrome. Goodpasture disease is a term used to describe glomerulonephritis and the presence of circulating anti-GBM antibodies, without pulmonary hemorrhage. Anti-GBM disease, a better term, should be used to refer to either of the 2 distinct clinical manifestations of this disorder. PathophysiologyAnti-GBM disease is an autoimmune disorder. The autoantibodies mediate the tissue injury by binding to their reactive epitopes in the basement membranes. This is a classic type II reaction in the Gell and Coombs classification of antigen-antibody reactions. This binding of antibodies can be visualized as the linear deposition of immunoglobulin along the glomerular basement membrane and, less commonly, the alveolar basement membranes, by direct immunofluorescent techniques. In the 1950s, Krakower and Greenspun identified GBM as the antigen. Later, Lerner, Glassock, and Dixon subsequently confirmed that the antibodies taken from the diseased kidneys produced nephritis in experimental animals. The principle component of the basement membrane is type IV collagen, which acts as a support structure and is composed of building blocks that are linked end-to-end. The building blocks are composed of 3 alpha subunits of collagen, which form a triple helix. Type IV collagen can be expressed as 6 different chains, alpha1 to alpha6. The alpha chain itself has 3 structural domains, as follows: (1) 7-S domain at the amino terminus; (2) a triple helix of 3 alpha chains, which ends at the carboxyl terminus; and (3) a noncollagenous domain. The classic triple helix is composed of 2 alpha1 chains and 1 alpha2 chain. The Goodpasture antigen has been localized to the carboxyl terminus of the noncollagenous domain of the alpha3 chain of type IV collagen. The antibodies are directed against a 28-kd monomeric subunit present within the noncollagenous domain. The anti-GBM antibody can usually be found in serum. In some patients, this antibody also reacts with the pulmonary alveolar basement membrane and causes alveolar hemorrhage. The basement membranes are complex structures that support layers of endothelium and epithelium. The circulating anti-GBM antibodies react with an epitope contained within the basement membranes. Although basement membranes are ubiquitous, only the alveolar and glomerular basement membranes are affected clinically. The preferential binding to the alveolar and glomerular basement membranes appears to be caused by greater accessibility of epitopes and greater expansion of alpha3 collagen units. Furthermore, the alpha3 collagen chains of glomerular and basement membranes are structurally integrated in such a way that they become more accessible to the circulating antibodies. Under normal conditions, the alveolar endothelium is a barrier to the anti–basement membrane antibodies. However, with increased vascular permeability, antibody binding to the basement membrane occurs in the alveoli. Therefore, for the deposition of antibody, an additional nonspecific lung injury that increases alveolar-capillary permeability is required. These factors include increased capillary hydrostatic pressure, high concentrations of inspired oxygen, bacteremia, endotoxemia, exposure to volatile hydrocarbons, upper respiratory infections, and tobacco smoking. Strong evidence exists that genetics play an important role. Patients with specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types are more susceptible to disease and may have a worse prognosis. Patients with Goodpasture disease have an increased incidence of HLA-DR2 compared to control populations. The association is caused by an excess of the haplotype bearing DR-W 15. In addition, HLA-B7 is found more frequently and is associated with more severe anti-GBM nephritis. The exact role of these genetic findings in the pathogeneses of disease is not clear. Sophisticated immunologic and molecular techniques have shown that immune response against Goodpasture autoantigen and syntheses of autoantibodies depend not only on the association of antigen with HLA molecules but also on how fragments of the antigen are handled by antigen-processing cells, such as B lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages, and dendritic cells. Recent reports have shown that presentation of Goodpasture autoantigen to CD4 T lymphocytes, which is strongly associated with HLA-DR 15 alloantigen, is largely dependent on the ability of antigen antigenic epitopes to be processed and is less clearly dependent on the binding affinity to the DR-15 molecule. FrequencyUnited StatesAnti-GBM disease is an uncommon disorder; approximately 1-2% of all cases of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis are secondary to this disorder. InternationalIn 1984, the incidence in England was 0.5 cases per million people per year, occurring over a 4-year period. This disorder, compared to Wegener granulomatosis, which has an incidence of approximately 0.5 cases per 100,000 people, is rare. Mortality/MorbidityIn the past, the disease was almost universally fatal. Currently, the mortality rate is approximately 10%. However, most patients who survive progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). RaceAnti-GBM disease occurs more commonly in white people than in black people, but it also may be more common in certain ethnic groups, such as the Maoris of New Zealand. SexIncidence shows a male predominance, with the male-to-female ratio reported as 2-9:1. AgeDistribution is bimodal. Young men present with a pulmonary-renal syndrome at ages 20 and 30 years, and elderly women (ie, aged 60-70 y) present primarily with glomerulonephritis. CLINICALHistorySubstantial variation exists in the clinical manifestations of patients with anti-GBM disease. Sixty to 80% of patients have clinically apparent manifestations of pulmonary and renal disease, 20-40% have renal disease alone, and fewer than 10% have disease that is limited to the lungs.
Physical
CausesDiffuse alveolar hemorrhage represents a medical emergency, and clinicians must have an expedient approach to its identification. There are many causes of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, including vasculitides, immunologic conditions such as Goodpasture syndrome, collagen vascular disease, and idiopathic conditions. Careful attention to the medical history, physical examination, and targeted laboratory evaluation often suggests the underlying cause. An initial insult to the pulmonary vasculature is required for exposure of the alveolar capillaries to the anti-GBM antibodies. Certain characteristics may predispose patients to develop this disease, as follows:
DIFFERENTIALSGlomerulonephritis, Acute Glomerulonephritis, Chronic Glomerulonephritis, Crescentic Glomerulonephritis, Diffuse Proliferative Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis, Membranous Glomerulonephritis, Nonstreptococcal Associated With Infection Glomerulonephritis, Poststreptococcal Glomerulonephritis, Rapidly Progressive Infective Endocarditis Pneumococcal Infections Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia Pneumonia, Bacterial Pneumonia, Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Fungal Pneumonia, Viral Polymyositis Pulmonary Eosinophilia Respiratory Failure Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Undifferentiated Connective-Tissue Disease Wegener Granulomatosis
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drug Name | Prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone, Meticorten, Sterapred) |
|---|---|
| Description | Used as an immunosuppressant in the treatment of autoimmune disorders. By reversing increased capillary permeability and suppressing PMN activity, may reduce inflammation. For severe or rapidly progressing disease, methylprednisolone at a dose of 250 mg q6h should be administered. Once the patient is stabilized, continue PO therapy with prednisone. |
| Adult Dose | 1-1.5 mg/kg PO qd for 4-6 wk; not to exceed 100 mg/d; taper gradually over another 6 wk and discontinue |
| Pediatric Dose | Not established |
| Contraindications | Documented hypersensitivity; viral infections; peptic ulcer disease; hepatic dysfunction; connective tissue infections; fungal or tubercular skin infections |
| Interactions | Coadministration with estrogens may decrease clearance; concurrent use with digoxin may cause digitalis toxicity secondary to hypokalemia; phenobarbital, phenytoin, and rifampin may increase metabolism of glucocorticoids (consider increasing maintenance dose); monitor for hypokalemia with coadministration of diuretics; increased risk of peptic ulcer disease if taking aspirin or NSAIDs |
| Pregnancy | B - Usually safe but benefits must outweigh the risks. |
| Precautions | Abrupt discontinuation of glucocorticoids may cause adrenal crisis; hyperglycemia, edema, osteonecrosis, myopathy, peptic ulcer disease, hypokalemia, osteoporosis, euphoria, psychosis, myasthenia gravis, growth suppression, and infections may occur with glucocorticoid use |
| Drug Name | Methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) |
|---|---|
| Description | DOC for severe disease. Should be started concomitantly with plasmapheresis. Decreases inflammation by suppressing migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and reversing increased capillary permeability. |
| Adult Dose | 500 mg to 1 g IV for 3 d qd or bid/qid followed by gradual reduction to lowest level that maintains clinical response |
| Pediatric Dose | 0.5-1.7 mg/kg/d or 5-25 mg/m2/d PO/IV/IM divided q6-12h |
| Contraindications | Documented hypersensitivity; viral, fungal, or tubercular skin infections |
| Interactions | Coadministration with digoxin may increase digitalis toxicity secondary to hypokalemia; estrogens may increase levels; phenobarbital, phenytoin, and rifampin may decrease levels (adjust dose); monitor patients for hypokalemia when taking diuretics concurrently |
| Pregnancy | C - Safety for use during pregnancy has not been established. |
| Precautions | Hyperglycemia, edema, osteonecrosis, peptic ulcer disease, hypokalemia, osteoporosis, euphoria, psychosis, growth suppression, myopathy, and infections are possible complications of glucocorticoid use; caution in patients with hypertension, congestive heart failure, ulcerative colitis, or thromboembolic disease |
| Drug Name | Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) |
|---|---|
| Description | Chemically related to nitrogen mustards. As an alkylating agent, the mechanism of action of the active metabolites may involve cross-linking of DNA, which may interfere with growth of normal and neoplastic cells. Has anti-inflammatory effect. Treat for 6-12 mo (the time usually required for cessation of anti-GBM antibody formation). |
| Adult Dose | 2 mg/kg IV initially; not to exceed 200 mg/d; goal is to reduce and maintain WBC count at 4000-7000/mm3 |
| Pediatric Dose | Not established |
| Contraindications | Documented hypersensitivity; severely depressed bone marrow function |
| Interactions | Allopurinol may increase the risk of bleeding or infection and enhance myelosuppressive effects; may potentiate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity; may reduce digoxin serum levels and antimicrobial effects of quinolones; chloramphenicol may increase half-life while decreasing metabolite concentrations; may increase effect of anticoagulants; coadministration of barbiturates, phenytoin, or chloral hydrate may increase rate of metabolism and leukopenic activity; thiazide diuretics may prolong cyclophosphamide-induced leukopenia and neuromuscular blockade by inhibiting cholinesterase activity |
| Pregnancy | D - Unsafe in pregnancy |
| Precautions | Regularly examine hematologic profile (particularly neutrophils and platelets) to monitor for hematopoietic suppression; regularly examine urine for RBCs, which may precede hemorrhagic cystitis; caution in impaired renal or hepatic function, leukopenia, or thrombocytopenia |
| Drug Name | Azathioprine (Imuran) |
|---|---|
| Description | Antagonizes purine metabolism and inhibits synthesis of DNA, RNA, and proteins. May decrease proliferation of immune cells, which results in lower autoimmune activity. Treat for 6-12 mo (the time usually required for cessation of anti-GBM antibody formation). |
| Adult Dose | 2 mg/kg/d PO as single dose; not to exceed 200 mg/d |
| Pediatric Dose | Not established |
| Contraindications | Documented hypersensitivity |
| Interactions | Toxicity increases with allopurinol; concurrent use with ACE inhibitors may induce severe leukopenia; may increase levels of methotrexate metabolites and decrease effects of anticoagulants, neuromuscular blockers, and cyclosporine |
| Pregnancy | D - Unsafe in pregnancy |
| Precautions | GI disturbances (eg, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, pancreatitis) may occur; adverse effects include leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatotoxicity, and increased risk of neoplasm; caution with liver disease and renal impairment |
Patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy should also receive prophylaxis against Pneumocystis pneumonia.
| Drug Name | Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (Septra, Bactrim DS) |
|---|---|
| Description | Inhibits bacterial synthesis of dihydrofolic acid by competing with paraaminobenzoic acid, inhibiting folic acid synthesis. Results in inhibition of bacterial growth. Antibacterial activity of TMP-SMZ includes common urinary tract pathogens, except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Each DS tab contains 160 mg TMP and 800 mg SMZ. |
| Adult Dose | 1 DS tab/d PO 3 times/wk or qod |
| Pediatric Dose | <2 months: Do not administer >2 months: 8 mg TMP/kg/d PO divided bid |
| Contraindications | Documented hypersensitivity; megaloblastic anemia caused by a folate deficiency |
| Interactions | May increase PT of warfarin, monitor coagulation tests and adjust dose as required; increased serum levels of both dapsone and TMP may occur when both medications are administered concomitantly; in elderly patients, incidence of thrombocytopenic purpura may increase when used concurrently with diuretics; the hepatic clearance of phenytoin may be decreased and the half-life may be prolonged; sulfonamides can displace MTX from plasma protein binding sites, thus increasing free MTX concentrations, which may potentiate methotrexate effects in bone marrow depression; hypoglycemic response of sulfonylureas may increase with coadministration of both medications; may decrease renal clearance of zidovudine, causing increase in zidovudine levels |
| Pregnancy | C - Safety for use during pregnancy has not been established. |
| Precautions | Discontinue at first appearance of skin rash or any sign of adverse reaction; obtain CBC counts frequently (if a significant reduction in the count of any formed blood element is noted, discontinue therapy); goiter production, diuresis, and hypoglycemia have occurred; high IV doses or prolonged infusions may cause bone marrow depression manifesting as thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, or megaloblastic anemia; caution in patients with possible folate deficiency, such as those with chronic alcoholism, patients who are elderly, those receiving anticonvulsant therapy, or those with malabsorption syndrome; hemolysis may occur in patients with a G-6-PD deficiency; if signs of bone marrow depression occur, administer leucovorin as needed to restore normal hematopoiesis (leucovorin 5-15 mg/d PO has been recommended); due to unique immune dysfunction, patients with AIDS may not tolerate or respond to TMP-SMZ; caution in patients with renal or hepatic impairment; maintain adequate fluid intake to prevent crystalluriaand stone formation; perform urinalyses and renal function tests during therapy |
| Media file 1: Goodpasture syndrome. A 45-year-old man was admitted to the intensive care unit with respiratory failure secondary to massive hemoptysis and acute renal failure. The antiglomerular basement membrane antibodies were strongly positive. The autopsy showed consolidated lung from extensive bleeding, which led to asphyxiation. | |
![]() | View Full Size Image | Media type: Photo |
| Media file 2: Goodpasture syndrome. Close-up view of gross pathology in a 45-year-old man admitted to the intensive care unit with respiratory failure secondary to massive hemoptysis and acute renal failure. The antiglomerular basement membrane antibodies were strongly positive. The autopsy showed consolidated lung from extensive bleeding, which led to asphyxiation. | |
![]() | View Full Size Image | Media type: Photo |
| Media file 3: Goodpasture syndrome. Cytoplasmic antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (c-ANCA) are commonly observed in Wegener granulomatosis and other vasculitides. | |
View Full Size Image | Media type: Photo |
| Media file 4: Goodpasture syndrome. Perinuclear antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA) are observed in Churg-Strauss vasculitis and occasionally in Wegener granulomatosis. | |
![]() | View Full Size Image | Media type: Photo |
| Media file 5: This is a renal biopsy slide of a patient who presented with hemoptysis and hematuria. The renal biopsy revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis, which may be caused by systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, or Goodpasture syndrome. | |
![]() | View Full Size Image | Media type: Photo |
| Media file 6: This image of direct immunofluorescence shows smooth linear staining of the basement membrane secondary to immunoglobulin G deposition. This confirms the diagnosis of Goodpasture syndrome. Image courtesy of K. Orr, MD. | |
![]() | View Full Size Image | Media type: Photo |
| Media file 7: Goodpasture syndrome. A 35-year-old man who previously smoked cigarettes heavily developed massive hemoptysis. The blood work showed positive antiglomerular basement membrane antibodies. | |
![]() | View Full Size Image | Media type: X-RAY |
Article Last Updated: Jan 30, 2007