Research Article
Enhanced allergic tissue injury in Goodpasture's syndrome by intercurrent bacterial infection.
Br Med J 1977; 2 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.2.6089.723 (Published 17 September 1977) Cite this as: Br Med J 1977;2:723
- A J Rees,
- C M Lockwood,
- D K Peters
Abstract
Studies of 16 relapses in seven patients receiving treatment for Goodpasture's syndrome showed that intercurrent bacterial infection seemed to be the precipitating event in 13 cases, whereas a rising antibody titre to glomerular basement membrane was responsible in only one. This association between infection and relapse in Goodpasture's syndrome has several implications for the pathogenesis of antibody-mediated tissue damage, and, clearly, more experiments are needed. Whatever the explanation, however, prevention and early diagnosis and treatment of infection in anti-GBM disease are important.