RESPIRATORY

Goodpasture’s Syndrome

  • This is a syndrome characterised by glomerulonephritis and respiratory disease together. 
  • It is driven by a type 2 hypersensitivity reaction whereby IgG anti-basement membrane antibodies attach to the glomerulus to cause glomerulonephritis but can also react with the alveolar membrane to cause pulmonary haemorrhage.
  • The three features to remember are:
    • Haemoptysis
    • Haematuria
    • Anaemia
  • Treatment is with corticosteroids, but in some cases plasmapheresis to remove autoantibodies has shown great success.

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