Iron laden macrophages in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: the telltale of occult alveolar hemorrhage?

BACKGROUND

A number of observations suggest that iron accumulates in the lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with vascular abnormalities, including pulmonary hypertension.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of accumulation of alveolar epithelial lining fluid (ELF) iron and of alveolar macrophage hemosiderin in IPF and its relationship with disease severity.

METHODS

Forty seven IPF patients and 14 healthy controls were retrospectively evaluated for iron accumulation in the lower respiratory tract using total iron spectrophotometric measures and for hemosiderin accumulation using the Perls' stain with the Golde score.

RESULTS

Total iron levels in ELF were significantly increased in IPF patients compared to non-smoking controls (p < 0.05); there were no differences with healthy smokers (p = 0.2). Hemosiderin accumulation in alveolar macrophages was similar in never smoking and ever smoking IPF patients (p = 0.5), was significantly higher in IPF patients than in both smoking and non-smoking healthy controls (p < 0.05, all comparisons) and was positively correlated with echocardiographic estimates of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (p < 0.05) and with increasing disease severity scores (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The data show exaggerated accumulation of iron in IPF broncho-alveolar ELF and alveolar cells with no association with tobacco smoke, thus suggesting, occult pulmonary hemorrhage as a likely cause.