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Goodpasture syndrome

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody disease; Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with pulmonary hemorrhage; Pulmonary renal syndrome; Glomerulonephritis - 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
• Nausea and vomiting
• Chest pain
• Pale skin

Signs and tests:

During a physical examination, the health care provider will usually discover that the patient has high blood pressure. The patient usually has signs of fluid overload, such as swelling, gallop rhythms of the heart, and crackle sounds in the lungs. The crackles may also be from blood in the air sacs.

The following are relevant test results:

• Urinalysis shows blood and protein in the urine. Abnormal red blood cells may be seen.
• BUN and creatinine levels are elevated.
• Chest x-ray shows diseased alveoli.
• Arterial blood gas analysis may show low oxygen in the blood.
• Lung biopsy shows damaged alveoli.
• Kidney biopsy shows damaged glomeruli.
• Anti-GBM antibody levels are elevated.

• Review Date: 11/16/2006
• Reviewed By: David M. Charytan, M.D., M.Sc., Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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