Goodpasture's Syndrome in a 78-Year-Old Woman

Abstract

IN 1919, Goodpasture 1 described a case of pulmonary hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis occurring in a young man. This clinical syndrome of hemoptysis, anemia, and renal failure with rapid deterioration has been reported mostly in young males. A recent review 2 cited 52 cases, only five of which were in females with an age range of sixteen to twenty-two years. The purpose of this report is to present a 78-year-old woman with Goodpasture's or hemorrhagic pulmonary-renal syndrome. Report of a Case This 78-year-old Italian-born woman was well until 18 years prior to hospitalization when she was first noted to be hypertensive. Blood pressures of 240 mm Hg were recorded, and she was treated with reserpine and thiazides with apparently adequate control of her blood pressure. During the year prior to admission she noted the progressive onset of anorexia, weakness, and a 30 lb (13.6 kg) weight loss. Five weeks prior to