Efficacy of high dose steroid treatment in pulmonary hemosiderosis

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis is characterized with episodes of hemoptysis, diffuse reticuloendothelial infiltrations in chest X-rays and iron deficiency anemia secondary to hemoptysis [1,2]. Although it is generally seen in childhood and adolescence, it can rarely be seen in adults as well [3]. Recurrent intraalveolar bleeding comprises the main pathophysiology of the disease. Reticulonodular infiltrations are seen in the chest X-rays due to these bleedings, and iron deficiency anemia ensues secondary to massive hemoptysis. The etiopathogenesis of the disease is not completely understood [4]. We report here a patient presenting with complaints of fever and cough who had diffuse infiltrations in his lungs whose symptoms and findings regressed with high dose methylprednisolone treatment.