Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in an adult female patient

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare condition that is rarely seen in the adult population 1. It is more common in younger patient between the ages of 1 to 171. It can present with onset of anemia, hemoptysis, dyspnoea and presence of opacifications on cat scan (CT) of the chest. The patient is a 40 year old female who presented to the hospital with gradual onset of dyspnoea and cough as well as hemoptysis that developed over the course of several weeks. Her vital signs were stable on admission to the hospital. She had intensive work up of her condition which led to a bronchoscopy and an open lung biopsy. These findings were consistent with diagnosis of IPH. The patient once diagnosed was started on corticosteroid therapy. She was sent home with clinic appointment. Pathogenesis, presentation and diagnosis of IPH are reviewed for this rare presentation in an adult patient.