Case Report of Idiopathic Pulmonary Haemosiderosis in a Child with recurrent chest infections

Authors

  • Renan Elsadeg Ibrahem
  • Anita Arasaretnam
  • Katherine Ordidge
  • John Vedelago
  • Rosemary Toy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3941/jrcr.v5i9.669

Keywords:

Child, Haemosiderosis, Emergency, Idiopathic Pulmonary Haemosiderosis

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare condition that usually presents as a triad of haemoptysis, iron deficiency anaemia and pulmonary infiltrates.  We report a case of IPH diagnosed in a 7 year old boy who had recurrent hospital admissions with severe chest infections and haemoptysis from his first few months of life.  He was found to have microcytic hypochromic anaemia, diffuse infiltrate shadowing on his chest X-ray (CXR) and ground-glass opacification on his computed tomogram (CT).  Perl's Prussian blue staining of his bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed haemosiderin-laden macrophage infiltration.  After exclusion of infective, cardiac, immunological and glomerular causes, he was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis.  He has since been treated intermittently with steroids, which have failed to control his symptoms fully.

Author Biographies

Renan Elsadeg Ibrahem

Radiology Registrar

Radiology department

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust

City Hospital Campus

Hucknall Road

Nottingham

NG5 1PB

 

Anita Arasaretnam

Haematology SPR

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust

Hermitage Lane

Maidstone

Kent

United Kingdom

ME16 9QQ

 

Katherine Ordidge

UCL Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging

Paul O'Gorman Building

University College London

72 Huntley Street

London

WC1E 6DD

 

John Vedelago

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Missenden Road

Camperdown

Sydney 2050

 Australia 

 

Rosemary Toy

Consultant radiologist

 

Breast Screening Unit,

Medway Maritime Hospital

Windmill Road

Gillingham

KENT, ME7 5NY

 

Published

2011-09-07

Issue

Section

Pediatric Radiology