Goodpasture Syndrome - Book Test at Low Cost

It is a life-threatening autoimmune disorder. It affects both lungs and kidneys. It is also known as glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease. It is an autoimmune disease in which body produces autoantibodies that attacks the basement membrane resulting in bleeding from lungs, glomerulonephritis and kidney failure.

In goodpasture’s syndrome attack the alpha-3 subunit of type IV collagen is attacked by the autoantibodies that is known as goodpasture's antigen. It can result in permanent lung and kidney damage that can be proven fatal if not diagnosed ealey and treated.

It mainly affects people of age 20-30 years or above 60 years of age.it is predominantly found in males.

Causes

The exact cause of goodpasture’s syndrome is not known but it may result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

The environmental factors are exposure to volatile hydrocarbons, cigarette smoking,viral infections such as influenza and upper respiratory tract infections.

Symptoms

Common symptoms are:

• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Weakness

Lung symptoms are:

• Coughing up blood
• Dry cough
• Breath shortening

Kidney symptoms are:

• Blood in urine
• Burning sensation while urination
• Nausea
• Pale skin
• Edema in any body part,especially in legs.

Diagnosis

• Blood tests: There are increased levels of waste products in blood that are excreated by kidney in urine.The autoantibodies circulating in blood are also found that helps in diagnosis.
• Urine tests: There are increased levels of proteins and high number of red blood cells in urine that indicates kidney damage.
• Kidney biopsy: A test in which tissue samples are removed and checked under a microscope to check good pasture syndrome antibodies.it also helps in identifying the extent of tissue damage.
• Chest x ray - X rays are used to check lung damage such as abnormal white patches are seen.

Treatment of Good Pasture’s Syndrome

The main objective of treatment is to

• Remove harmful antibodies
• To Control fluid buildup
• To Control highblood pressure
• For prevention of lung and kidney damage

Treatment includes:

• Immunosuppressants: Tosuppress immune system that produces antibodies.
• Corticosteroids: To decrease inflammation and tissue damage.
• Plasmapheresis: This is a process in which harmful antibodies are removed from blood.
• Anti hypertensives:  Such ACE inhibitors and ARB’s to control blood pressure.
• Dialysis: is done in respiratory failure cases.
• Kidney transplants

Complications

Complications of good pasture’s syndrome are:

• Chronic kidney disease
• End-stage kidney disease
• Lung failure
• Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
• Severe pulmonary haemorrhage