Folia Medica 63(4): 582-585, doi: 10.3897/folmed.63.e56088
Place of bronchoscopy in the diagnostics and follow-up of patients with idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis
expand article infoIvanka P. Karavelikova
‡ Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Open Access
Abstract

The idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis is a rare, life-threatening condition observed mainly in children and characterized by recurrent episodes of diffuse alveolar hemorrhages. The disease is characterized by the triad of hemoptysis, alveolar infiltrates in chest radiography, and iron-deficiency anemia. The recurrent episodes of alveolar hemorrhage can lead to chronic iron-deficiency anemia and irreversible pulmonary fibrosis; therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to the outcome of the disease.The idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis is a rare, life-threatening condition observed mainly in children and characterized by recurrent episodes of diffuse alveolar hemorrhages. The disease is characterized by the triad of hemoptysis, alveolar infiltrates in chest radiography, and iron-deficiency anemia. The recurrent episodes of alveolar hemorrhage can lead to chronic iron-deficiency anemia and irreversible pulmonary fibrosis; therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to the outcome of the disease.

Keywords
bronchoalveolar lavage, flexible bronchoscopy, hemosiderin-laden macrophages, pulmonary hemosiderosis