[Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (case report)].

A case is presented, of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in a female aged 19 years. The clinical onset occurred at the age of 3 years and the evolution was characterized by subfever, dispnoea, coughing and cyanosis. Radiological examination revealed reticulation and uniform distribution of nodules in both lungs. Other laboratory investigations have revealed hypochromic anaemia, restrictive syndrome and reduction of the maximal ventilation rate with marked arterial hypoxemia. Pulmonary bioptic puncture was performed and the patient died three days after puncture. Histopathologic examination of the bioptic sample and of necroptic specimens revealed fibrotic interstitial nodules filled with siderophages. The small and the median arteries displayed fragmentation of the elastic fibers, and hyperelastosis. The changes oberved allowed to make an exact diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis.