Goodpasture's syndrome: A report of five cases and review of the literature

Five cases of Goodpasture's syndrome are presented and fifty-one other cases recorded in the literature since 1964 are reviewed. Certain clinical features of this syndrome remain prominent such as hemoptysis, anemia, hematuria and pulmonary infiltrates appearing in a young man with rapid development of renal failure or pulmonary hemorrhage, together with pathologic findings confined to the lungs and kidneys. However, other aspects of this syndrome appear to have changed, such as an apparent increased incidence, later age of onset, less male predominance, a longer possible survival time and a greater chance of recovery. Whether these changes represent a new pattern of the syndrome or reflect the influence of case selection or therapy is not evident at this time.