Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare condition of unknown etiology, characterized by hemoptysis, alveolar pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiograph, and iron deficiency anemia. The estimated incidence of IPH is 0.24 and 1.23 cases per million in selected populations. We report a case of a 3-year-old girl with acute onset of respiratory distress, microcytic hypochromic anemia, and bilateral alveolar infiltrates on chest radiograph. Pulmonary hemorrhage was confirmed on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung biopsy. Other causes of pulmonary hemorrhage were excluded. She was treated with prednisolone, and when her anemia relapsed, azathioprine was added to prednisolone with a good response.