This article presents a case of recurrent anti-GBM disease (with antibodies against the glomerular basement membrane [GBM]) in a 17-year-old patient successfully treated with rituximab. Kidney biopsy with detection of linear deposition of immunoglobulin G (IgG) along the basement membrane is the diagnostic gold standard, which should be accompanied by serological testing. However, standard assays for the detection of anti-GBM antibodies have a high rate of false-negative results. In this particular case, an increase in proteinuria despite standard therapy (plasmapheresis, steroids, cyclophosphamide) was the clinical correlate of relapsing disease. The use of rituximab completely resolved the recurrent anti-GBM disease.
Keywords: Acute kidney injury; Anti-GBM disease, relapse; Antibodies, monoclonal; Kidney biopsy; Plasma exchange.