Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in a patient with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis caused by impetigo

Intern Med. 2015;54(8):961-4. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.54.3838. Epub 2015 Apr 15.

Abstract

We herein report a case of pulmonary renal syndrome with nephritis in a 17-year-old boy with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) associated with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). The patient exhibited hemoptysis two weeks after developing impetigo, and DAH was diagnosed on bronchoscopy. Respiratory failure progressed, and high-dose methylprednisolone therapy was administered; the respiratory failure regressed immediately after the onset of therapy. Streptococcus pyogenes was detected in an impetigo culture, and, together with the results of the renal biopsy, a diagnosis of APSGN was made. This case demonstrates the effects of high-dose methylprednisolone therapy in improving respiratory failure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Glomerulonephritis / etiology
  • Glomerulonephritis / microbiology*
  • Glomerulonephritis / pathology
  • Hemoptysis / complications
  • Hemoptysis / microbiology*
  • Hemoptysis / pathology
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Hemorrhage / microbiology*
  • Hemorrhage / pathology
  • Humans
  • Impetigo / complications
  • Impetigo / microbiology*
  • Impetigo / pathology
  • Lung Diseases / etiology
  • Lung Diseases / microbiology*
  • Lung Diseases / pathology
  • Male
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use*
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / drug therapy*
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / etiology
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / isolation & purification*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Methylprednisolone

Supplementary concepts

  • Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with pulmonary hemorrhage