Goodpasture syndrome: a rare case presenting with recurrent haemoptysis

Abstract

Goodpasture syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease which affects young adults with a male preponderance and can be triggered at any point in life with a classical clinical triad of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, diffuse pulmonary haemorrhage and circulating anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody (anti-GBM antibody). Here we are presenting a case of a young man with hypertension in his early 20s who presented with fatigue, recurrent haemoptysis, breathlessness and decreased urine output without features of infection. He was diagnosed at an early stage of the disease with the help of clinical, serological and radiological findings. An early diagnosis with effective treatment using plasma exchange, intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone, and cyclophosphamide showed a rapid improvement in the patient's condition with an immediate decrease in anti-GBM titres and proteinuria.

Keywords: Immunology; Radiology; Respiratory medicine; Smoking and tobacco.