Immunohistology of the Lung in Goodpasture's Syndrome

SUMMARY

Immunofluorescent studies of the lung of a patient who died from Goodpasture's syndrome revealed linear deposition of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and beta_1C-globulin along the basement membrane of alveolar septae and alveolar capillaries. This linear pattern was similar to that found in the glomeruli.

In view of the known similarity of some alveolar and glomerular antigens, the IgG in lung and kidney of this patient might have contained cross-reacting antibodies to a common antigen. These observations suggest that antibodies to basement membranes might have induced both the pulmonary and renal lesions.