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Anti-glomerular basement membrane diseases (anti-GBM diseases) is a rare disorder that can involve quickly worsening kidney failure and lung disease.

Some forms of the disease involve just the lung or the kidney. Anti-GBM disease used to be known as Goodpasture syndrome.

Goodpasture syndrome; Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with pulmonary hemorrhage; Pulmonary renal syndrome; Glomerulonephritis - pulmonary hemorrhage

Anti-GBM disease is an autoimmune disorder. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. People with this syndrome develop substances that attack a protein called collagen in the tiny air sacs in the lungs and the filtering units (glomeruli) of the kidneys.

These substances are called antiglomerular basement membrane antibodies. The glomerular basement membrane is a part of the kidneys that helps filter waste and extra fluid from the blood. Antiglomerular basement membrane antibodies are antibodies against this membrane. They can damage the basement membrane, which can lead to kidney damage.

Sometimes, this disorder is triggered by a viral respiratory infection or by breathing in hydrocarbon solvents. In such cases, the immune system may attack organs or tissues because it mistakes them for these viruses or foreign chemicals.

The immune system's faulty response causes bleeding in the air sacs of the lungs and inflammation in the kidney's filtering units.

Symptoms may occur very slowly over months or even years, but they often develop very quickly over days to weeks.

Loss of appetite, fatigue, and weakness are common early symptoms.

Lung symptoms may include:

Kidney and other symptoms include:

A physical examination may reveal signs of high blood pressure and fluid overload. The health care provider may hear abnormal heart and lung sounds when listening to the chest with a stethoscope.

Urinalysis results are often abnormal, and show blood and protein in the urine. Abnormal red blood cells may be seen.

The following tests may also be done:

The main goal is to remove the harmful antibodies from the blood. Treatment may include:

You may be told to limit your intake of salt and fluids to control swelling. In some cases, a low-to-moderate protein diet may be recommended.

These resources may provide more information on anti-GBM disease:

An early diagnosis is very important. The outlook is much worse if the kidneys are already severely damaged when treatment begins. Lung damage can range from mild to severe.

Many people will need dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Untreated, this condition can lead to any of the following:

Call for an appointment with your provider if you are producing less urine, or you have any other symptoms of anti-GBM disease.

Never sniff glue or siphon gasoline with your mouth, which exposes the lungs to hydrocarbon solvents and can cause the disease.

Collard HR, King TE, Schwarz MI. Alveolar hemorrhage and rare infiltrative diseases. In: Broaddus VC, Mason RJ, Ernst JD, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 67.

Phelps RG, Turner AN. Anti-glomerular basement membrane disease and Goodpasture disease. In: Feehally J, Floege J, Tonelli M, Johnson RJ, eds. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 24.

Radhakrishnan J, Appel GB, D'Agati VD. Secondary glomerular disease. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 32.