1. SARS-CoV-2 infection and recurrence of anti-glomerular basement disease: a case report
- Author
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Alexander Winkler, Emanuel Zitt, Hannelore Sprenger-Mähr, Afschin Soleiman, Manfred Cejna, and Karl Lhotta
- Subjects
Anti-GBM disease ,SARS-CoV-2 ,COVID-19 ,Glomerulonephritis ,Case report ,Diseases of the genitourinary system. Urology ,RC870-923 - Abstract
Abstract Background Anti-glomerular basement membrane disease (GBM) disease is a rare autoimmune disease causing rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and pulmonary haemorrhage. Recently, an association between COVID-19 and anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease has been proposed. We report on a patient with recurrence of anti-GBM disease after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Case presentation The 31-year-old woman had a past medical history of anti-GBM disease, first diagnosed 11 years ago, and a first relapse 5 years ago. She was admitted with severe dyspnoea, haemoptysis, pulmonary infiltrates and acute on chronic kidney injury. A SARS-CoV-2 PCR was positive with a high cycle threshold. Anti-GBM autoantibodies were undetectable. A kidney biopsy revealed necrotising crescentic glomerulonephritis with linear deposits of IgG, IgM and C3 along the glomerular basement membrane, confirming a recurrence of anti-GBM disease. She was treated with steroids, plasma exchange and two doses of rituximab. Pulmonary disease resolved, but the patient remained dialysis-dependent. We propose that pulmonary involvement of COVID-19 caused exposure of alveolar basement membranes leading to the production of high avidity autoantibodies by long-lived plasma cells, resulting in severe pulmonary renal syndrome. Conclusion Our case supports the assumption of a possible association between COVID-19 and anti-GBM disease.
- Published
- 2021
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