Pulmonary Hemosiderosis, Idiopathic

Key Features

• Recurrent pulmonary hemorrhage may result in interstitial fibrosis and pulmonary failure

• Usually in children or young adults

• Sometimes associated with celiac disease

• Multiple episodes can result in interstitial fibrosis and respiratory failure

Clinical Findings

• Hemoptysis, recurrent

• Dyspnea

• Alveolar opacities on chest radiograph

• Anemia, often iron deficient

Diagnosis

• Exclusion of other causes of alveolar hemorrhage

• Hemoptysis, dyspnea, cough

• Chest radiograph opacities

• Iron deficiency anemia

• Hemosiderin-laden macrophages on bronchoalveolar lavage and lung biopsy specimens

Treatment

• Corticosteroids may be useful for acute episodes