Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis

Abstract

PULMONARY hemorrhage of unknown etiology is a rarely reported cause of childhood anemia. In this condition iron pigment from red-cell break-down is trapped by local histiocytes, resulting in brown induration of the lung. This disease, which is often not diagnosed during the lifetime of the patient, is known as idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis and has been well described by Wyllie et al.1 It either follows an insidious course, suggesting chronic anemia, or is marked by acute episodes of hemorrhage, with resulting pallor, fever, abdominal pain and vomiting. Physical examination of the chest in fully developed cases may be negative, but x-ray . . .