IntroductionGoodpasture's syndrome consists of a triad of pulmonary hemorrhage, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibodies, either in circulation or fixed to the kidney. The absence of renal manifestations is uncommon. We present a case of biopsy proven anti-GBM antibody disease with normal renal function, mild urinary abnormalities and positive C-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (C-ANCA) serology.Case presentationA 44-year-old female was treated for repeated episodes of hemoptysis and one episode of respiratory failure requiring ventilatory support. She had minor urinary abnormalities in the form of microscopic hematuria and non-nephrotic proteinuria. She also had positive C-ANCA. Her lung biopsy showed evidence of intra-alveolar hemorrhage with linear IgG deposits in the basement membrane of the alveolar capillaries. Owing to these lung biopsy findings, a kidney biopsy was carried out, which showed minimal thickening of the glomerular basement membrane and linear IgG and C3 deposits along the capillary walls. Her renal function remained persistently normal.ConclusionGoodpasture's syndrome is a rare disease. Even though the classical presentation is that of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis pulmonary hemorrhage and anti-GBM antibodies in the circulation and kidneys, in rare cases it can present with repeated pulmonary hemorrhage and minor urinary abnormalities. In all cases of repeated pulmonary hemorrhage, the possibility of Goodpasture's syndrome should be considered and investigated further.

IntroductionSystemic sclerosis or scleroderma is an autoimmune rheumatic disease characterized by organ-based fibrosis. Renal involvement in scleroderma occurs mainly in the form of scleroderma renal crisis, affecting 5 to 10% of patients. It remains one of the most important and immediately life-threatening complications of scleroderma, but the prognosis improves considerably after treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Other renal pathologies can occur in scleroderma. These include scleroderma overlap syndromes with associated features of lupus nephritis, myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) or proteinase 3 ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis, or crescentic glomerulonephritis. These alternative pathologies should be suspected in any individual patient with a differing clinical picture and the patient should be appropriately investigated. Crescentic glomerulonephritis occurs very rarely in scleroderma. This report describes a patient with scleroderma and crescentic glomerulonephritis.Case presentationA 52-year-old woman with a known history of scleroderma and hypertension on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors was referred to the nephrologist because of a rapid decline in renal function. Kidney biopsy was performed which revealed immune complex type crescentic glomrulonephritis. Cytoplasmic-staining ANCA was negative. Despite immunosuppressive treatment the patient rapidly went into end-stage renal failure and is still on hemodialysis.ConclusionScleroderma is a complex disease, and the best characterized renal involvement in scleroderma is scleroderma renal crisis. However, other renal pathologies can occur in scleroderma. These alternative pathologies should be suspected in any patient with a differing clinical picture and the patient should be appropriately investigated, as the clinical course and treatment are different from the more common scleroderma renal crisis.