Plasmapheresis and immunosuppressive agents in antibasement membrane antibody-induced Goodpasture's syndrome

Four patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage (Goodpasture's syndrome) induced by circulating anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibodies were treated with immunosuppressive agents and varying amounts of plasma exchange. All four patients showed progressive decreases in circulating anti-GBM antibody during therapy. Two patients with established renal failure before therapy showed no improvement in renal function but had a remission from pulmonary disease. In two other patients, renal failure developed early in the course of therapy and required maintenance hemodialysis. Later, their renal function improved coincident with a decrease in circulating anti-GBM antibody. Aggressive measures to reduce the levels of circulating anti-GBM antibody may have a salutory effect on the clinical course of the disease, particularly when undertaken early.