Perioperative management of the patient with Goodpasture's syndrome.

Goodpasture’s Syndrome (GS) is characterized by the classic triad of diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage, glomerulonephritis, and circulating anti-basement membrane antibodies1. It is an uncommon disorder, with an incidence estimated to be 0.3 cases per 100,000 people per year2. There is a male predominance, with a male to female ratio between 2:1 and 9:13. The disease may present at any age, although it most commonly manifests between the ages of 20 and 30 years1. Goodpasture first described the pulmonary renal syndrome in 1919 during the influenza epidemic. However, it was not until 1958 that Stanton and Tange referenced Goodpasture’s original description in their report of young men with pulmonary hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis1. The role of anti-GBM antibodies in the pathogenesis of GS was discovered in 19671. Reported risk factors for the development of GS include exposure to hydrocarbons, cigarette smoking, and a preceding viral illness, especially influenza2.