[Goodpasture syndrome: re-exacerbations associated with intercurrent infections]

A review is made of eleven patients diagnosed with Goodpasture syndrome from 1981-1992 to study the possible causes of re-exacerbation episodes in this syndrome. Twelve episodes were detected in eight patients. Eight episodes were chronologically associated with intercurrent bacterial infections, one with discontinuation of therapy, one with volume overloading, and a concomitant infectious symptomatology was present in two patients, although no organism was recovered. All re-exacerbations manifested as pulmonary hemorrhage and most of them occurred in the early months after diagnosis. We therefore believe that an early diagnosis and aggressive therapy of intercurrent infections in this syndrome is recommended to avoid the re-emergence of pulmonary hemorrhage, which occasionally compromises patient survival.