Spontaneous remission of Goodpasture's syndrome in a 21-year-old man

History and clinical findings: A 21-year-old man was admitted twice within half-a-year because of fatigue and increasing dyspnoea. Both times the ches t x-ray showed extensive pulmonary infiltrates. Clinical remission occurred within a few days of starting antibiotic treatment. Investigations: During the second admission an increased titre for antibodi es against glomerular basement membrane was discovered (2560 U/ml); renal f unctions were normal, but there was haematuria. Renal biopsy revealed linea r deposits of IgG along the glomerular basement membrane. Diagnosis, treatment and course: The pattern of findings indicated Goodpast ure's syndrome. Immunosuppressive treatment and plasma separation did not h ave to be performed because spontaneous remission occured within a few days . Conclusion: This case demonstrates that spontaneous remission may occur in Goodpasture's syndrome.