All issues > Volume 52(2); 2009

Case Report

Korean J Pediatr. 2009;52(2):256-260. Published online February 15, 2009.

A case of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis with seasonal recurrence

Ga Young GY Kwak¹, Na Young NY Lee¹, Moon Hee MH Lee¹, Soo Young SY Lee¹, Seung Yun SY Chung¹, Jin Han JH Kang¹, Dae Chul DC Jeong¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea

Correspondence Dae Chul DC Jeong ,Email: dcjeong@catholic.ac.kr

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare disease affecting mostly children. This disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of hemoptysis, bilateral diffuse pulmonary infiltrates, and iron-deficiency anemia. An acute fulminant alveolar hemorrhage can be fatal due to respiratory failure, while chronic hemorrhage leads to hemosiderin-laden macrophages and pulmonary fibrosis. Genetic, autoimmune, allergic, environmental, and metabolic mechanisms of pathogenesis have been suggested, but the etiology of IPH remains unknown. We report on a 9-year-old girl with idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis who showed seasonal recurrences without cause.

Keywords :Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis; Seasonal recurrence