[A case of Goodpasture's syndrome with massive pulmonary hemorrhage ameliorated by cyclophosphamide pulse therapy]

A 22-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of fever, renal dysfunction, and a 3-month-history of macrohematuria. Laboratory evaluation revealed proteinuria (1.8 g/day), hypoproteinemia, microcytic microchromic anemia, renal failure (blood urea nitrogen 30.3 mg/dl, serum creatinine 4.0 mg/dl), and positive serum antiglomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibody. Renal biopsy revealed cellular crescents in all 8 glomeruli and partial rupture of the GBM. The interstitium showed severe inflammatory cell infiltration. Immunofluorescent examination revealed linear deposits of IgG and C3 along the GBM. Pulmonary biopsy revealed linear deposits of IgG along the alveolar basement membrane in the immunofluorescent examination. A diagnosis of Goodpasture's syndrome was made because all of the diagnostic criteria were fulfilled. After admission, the patient's renal function deteriorated rapidly. Hemodialysis was started, and the patient was treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy and oral prednisolone with double filtration plasma pheresis (DFPP). However, her renal function did not improve. On the 30th hospital day, she showed hemoptysis, and a chest X-ray and CT revealed massive bilateral pulmonary hemorrhage. Despite treatment with pulsed methylprednisolone, oral prednisolone (80 mg/day), and DFPP, the pulmonary hemorrhage improved only transiently, worsening again 5 days later. Cyclophosphamide pulse therapy was administered. After this treatment, the patient's pulmonary manifestations and pulmonary hemorrhage improved. At the present time she is on maintenance dialysis therapy without pulmonary manifestations. These findings suggest that cyclophosphamide pulse therapy is effective against Goodpasture's syndrome with massive pulmonary hemorrhage showing resistance to other conventional therapy.