The exact cause is unknown. Sometimes the disorder is triggered by a viral infection or by inhalation of gasoline or hydrocarbon solvents. The disorder is rare, affecting approximately 1 out of 100,000 people. It is most often seen in men ages 16 to 61, usually around 20 years old.
Smoking increases the risk of developing the disorder.
It may develop after a recent viral respiratory infection. There is an inherited predisposition for Goodpasture's syndrome. The disorder usually manifests with excretion of protein and blood in the urine . It progresses rapidly to kidney failure . Antibody deposits in the lungs cause bleeding within the lung tissues, resulting in the bloody sputum , which may be one of the first symptoms of the disorder.