Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare cause of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). It is associated with a high mortality rate and recurrent episodes of widespread alveolar hemorrhage and most commonly affects children. Here, we present a rare occurrence of late-onset idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in a 74-year-old male. He was admitted for non-resolving pneumonia, hemoptysis, and type 1 respiratory failure, along with sideropenic anemia. Chest imaging showed bilateral upper lobe and right middle lobe alveolar opacities. Infective and autoimmune etiologies of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage were ruled out during the evaluation. Transbronchial lung biopsy showed patchy alveolar hemorrhage and abundant hemosiderin pigment deposition, revealing idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis. The patient was successfully treated with oral steroids, followed by complete radiological resolution without clinical relapse at one-year follow-up.
Keywords: bronchoalveolar lavage; diffuse alveolar hemorrhage; fiberoptic bronchoscopy; hemoptysis; hemosiderin-laden macrophages; idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis; iron deficiency anemia; transbronchial lung biopsy.
Copyright © 2024, Gabhale et al.