Pulmonary-renal syndrome: Ethiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Pulmonary-renal syndrome is clinical syndrome characterized by diffuse alveolar haemorrhage and rapidlyprogressive glomerulonephritis. The study aimed at finding pathogenetic mechanisms for progression of pulmonaryrenal syndrome and highlighting clinical importance of premature finding, prevention and timely treatment of patients with pulmonary-renal syndrome. Expert surveys and clinical studies that deal with ethiopathogesis, diagnosing and treatment of pulmonary-renal syndrome have been analyzed. Pathogenesis of pulmonary-renal syndrome is complex and it involves antibodies on glomerular basal membrane (anti-GBM-antibodies), antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA antibodies), immune complexes and thrombotic microangiopathy. The basis of pulmonary impairment stems from vasculitis of small blood vessels which affect arterioles, venules and alveolar capillaries and the basis for kidney impairment is focal proliferative glomerulonephritis. The syndrome can be revealed by clinical picture of severe respiratory and/or renal insufficiency, when patients are required to be hospitalized and to have increased monitoring in diagnosing and therapy. The syndrome is characterized by abrupt emergence and rapidly-progressive flow of the disease, which can cause even the final stage of the renal disease. The treatment includes the application of large doses of corticosteroids, cytotoxic agents and plasmapheresis application. Premature diagnosing and timely implementation of adeqaute treatment will to great extent reduce the mortality rate of patients struck with pulmonary-renal syndrome.