Goodpasture disease is a multisystem, rapidly progressive autoimmune disease that initially presents as a pulmonary- renal syndrome and—if not treated—progresses to respiratory and renal failure. Goodpasture disease in characterized by the presence of autoantibodies in the immune system that attack the lungs and kidneys and cause hemorrhaging in the basement membrane lining of the lungs and kidneys. The disease is a manifestation of human anti-basement membrane diseases, but the exact cause is unknown. Smoking and inhaling hydrocarbon fumes as well as viral respiratory infections damage the basement mem¬ brane and are implicated in the promotion of Goodpasture disease. In addition, there does seem to be an inherited predisposition.