[Rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis with antibodies to glomerular capillary basement membrane].

Antiglomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis was diagnosed in 14 patients (6 men and 8 women) aged 20 to 59 years. Five patients were found to have Goodpasture s syndrome. 5 rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. 1 nephrotic syndrome, and 1 had mild glomerulonephritis. Blood pressure, proteinuria and haematuria were not severe in most patients. In 10 patients, the diagnosis was not established before end-stage renal failure had developed. Four patients died of lung haemorrhage, in 3 the haemorrhage was controlled by the treatment, in 3 renal failure without lung haemorrhage occurred, and in 3 renal function improved or was stable. The prognosis improved significantly after plasma exchange together with immunosuppression had been introduced.