Rescue of kidney function in a toddler with anti-GBM nephritis

Abstract

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) nephritis is rare in childhood with few published cases. We report a 19-month-old boy with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) due to anti-GBM nephritis. Treatment was started under 2 weeks after presentation and included plasma exchange, intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone, intravenous cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate as mainstay medication. The treatment was rapidly effective with immediate decrease in anti-GBM titres and plasma creatinine. Three years after presentation, the boy has normal kidney function, blood pressure and no residual disease. The successful outcome was likely due to the rapid recognition of the anti-GBM antibodies as the cause of RPGN and aggressive primary treatment.

Antiglomerular Basement Membrane Disease in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…GPS is rare in children, with only about 30 cases being reported in the pediatric literature, with the youngest reported child being 11 months of age. The previously reported cases of pediatric Goodpasture's syndrome over the past 25 years are detailed in Table 2 [ 5 – 13 ].…”