Autoantibodies against glomerular basement membrane (GBM) can be serologically detected in Anti-GBM disease, a glomerular nephritis which frequently involves the lungs (then called Goodpasture syndrome). Approximately 10% of the patients with GBM antibodies also show additional MPO ANCA. Goodpasture syndrome is characterised by bloody secretion and may lead to lung siderosis. Without treatment the syndrome has a very poor prognosis. Since the disease progresses rapidly, early diagnosis is imperative and can be confirmed by the detection of anti-GBM antibodies.

Autoantibodies to glomerular basement membranes (GBM) are highly specific and sensitive markers for Goodpasture’s syndrome. The prevalence of GBM antibodies in patients with lung involvement amounts to 80-90%, in patients without lung involvement to 60%. GBM antibodies have shown to be crucial for an early diagnosis of the disease. Since the clinical progression of the disease correlates with antibody concentration, with high-titers indicating an unfavourable prognosis, ELISA-based quantification of GBM autoantibodies enables a monitoring of the course of disease. A regular,quantitative determination of the autoantibody titer supports the monitoring of the therapy success, since the titer correlates with the disease activity.