Anti –Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease

Anti –glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease is a rare autoimmune small vessel vasculitis characterized by autoreactivity to antigens in type IV collagen chains expressed in glomerular and alveolar basement membrane. The detection of circulating anti-GBM antibodies, which are shown to be direc tly pathogenic, is central to disease diagnosis. Clinically, anti-GBM disease usually presents with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with or without alveolar hemorrhage. Rapid diagnosis and early treatment are required to prevent mortality and to preserve renal function. Relapse in anti-GBM di sease is uncommon. Variant and atypical forms of anti-GBM disease are increasingly recognised.

Source: Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America - September 7, 2018 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Kavita Gulati, Stephen P. McAdoo Source Type: research