Acute pulmonary embolism in a child with ANCA-negative Idiopathic Pulmonary Capillaritis

Saudi Med J. 2019 Jun;40(6):610-613. doi: 10.15537/smj.2019.6.24210.

Abstract

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is an uncommon and often fatal condition in children that is characterized by distinct histopathological etiologies. Herein, we discuss the case of an 11-year-old girl who presented with acute worsening of hypoxia and left-sided chest pain. The patient had lung biopsy-proven idiopathic pulmonary capillaritis and was being treated with prednisolone every alternate day, azathioprine, and hydroxychloroquine. A contrast-computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest showed an acute left lower-lobe pulmonary embolism. Negative results were obtained on a test for thrombophilia. In children, pulmonary embolism with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-negative idiopathic pulmonary capillaritis is a rare clinical condition. The exact cause of thrombus formation in this case is unknown; however, obesity, immobility, and chronic systemic corticosteroid therapy probably played a role.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
  • Capillaries*
  • Chest Pain / etiology
  • Child
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / administration & dosage
  • Hypoxia / etiology
  • Lung / blood supply*
  • Lung Diseases / etiology
  • Mercaptopurine / administration & dosage
  • Mercaptopurine / analogs & derivatives
  • Prednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Pulmonary Alveoli
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnosis
  • Pulmonary Embolism / drug therapy
  • Pulmonary Embolism / etiology*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasculitis / complications*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
  • azathiopurine
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Prednisolone
  • Mercaptopurine