A viral infection triggered a rare autoimmune disease in a 7-year-old girl from Rivne region.

Pediatric nephrologists at the Children's Medical Center (Western Ukrainian Specialized Center) saved a 7-year-old girl from Rivne region who was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease – Goodpasture syndrome. This condition occurs in one out of two million children.

The illness in Milana began like a typical ARVI, but her condition deteriorated rapidly. Along with catarrhal symptoms, changes in urination and hematuria (blood in urine) developed. Due to high levels of creatinine and urea, the Rivne doctors, whom the family consulted, referred the child to Lviv, to the Children's Medical Center, the medical facility reported.

“The child arrived at the Nephrology Clinic with severe kidney damage and required urgent specialized treatment. Hematuria could indicate glomerulonephritis related to a systemic disease. Therefore, we began searching for the cause of acute kidney failure. In Rivne, the child had already undergone a significant portion of basic examinations, so we additionally performed a test for antibodies to the basal membrane. It turned out positive, indicating a rare disease – systemic vasculitis or Goodpasture syndrome. A kidney biopsy confirmed the diagnosis,” said the clinic's head, Roman Andrunievych.

According to the physician, in addition to immunosuppressive therapy, the girl underwent six sessions of therapeutic plasmapheresis. The procedure is costly but highly effective. Using the PrismaFlex machine, it was possible to cleanse the plasma of antibodies that were damaging the child's kidneys.

The pediatric nephrologist noted that this severe disease is extremely rare worldwide. Therefore, little Milana is not only a rare case of disease detection but also a successful story of treating systemic vasculitis.

“The main task was to quickly determine the cause of the acute kidney damage, as the child's condition was rapidly deteriorating. Suspecting a systemic disease, the primary focus was on identifying specific antibodies. This approach yielded good results, and now the girl is healthy and happy, having returned to her normal life,” added the pediatric nephrologist.

The Center states that Goodpasture syndrome is a disease that affects the kidneys and lungs. In most cases, the disease begins suddenly, with any respiratory viral infection potentially triggering its onset. The patient's condition can worsen very quickly, and without specialized treatment, it can lead to death. Therefore, doctors advise that any changes in urination, especially the presence of blood in the urine (hematuria), should prompt immediate consultation with specialists to timely detect the disease.