Steroid-Responsive Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis in Adulthood: A Case Report.

Authors

  • Dr. Krishnan Namboothiri E Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS, Patna, Bihar, India
  • Dr. Deependra Kumar Rai Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS Patna, Bihar, India
  • Dr. Somesh Thakur Additional Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS Patna, Bihar, India
  • Dr. Javeeria Shabbir Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS, Patna, Bihar, India
  • Dr. Jisha G. Panicker Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS, Patna, Bihar, India
  • Dr. Sheetal Verma Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS, Patna, Bihar, India
  • Dr. Thaodem Collin Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS, Patna, Bihar, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2693

Keywords:

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, hemoptysis, corticosteroids, case report

Abstract

Background:

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare cause of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), most commonly reported in children but occasionally seen in adults.

 Case Presentation:

We describe a 30-year-old woman with recurrent hemoptysis, anemia, and dyspnea for two years. Investigations revealed iron deficiency anemia, diffuse ground-glass opacities on HRCT, and hemosiderin-laden macrophages on bronchoalveolar lavage. Transbronchial biopsy confirmed pulmonary hemosiderosis. She was treated with oral corticosteroids (0.75 mg/kg/day), resulting in complete clinical and radiological resolution within one month.

 Conclusion:

This case highlights the importance of considering IPH in adults presenting with unexplained DAH and anemia, particularly in tuberculosis-endemic regions. Early recognition and corticosteroid therapy can lead to favorable outcomes.

Author Biographies

  • Dr. Krishnan Namboothiri E, Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS, Patna, Bihar, India

    MD, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, Bihar, India. His areas of interest include diffuse parenchymal lung diseases, bronchoscopy, and pulmonary infections.

  • Dr. Deependra Kumar Rai, Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS Patna, Bihar, India

    Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS Patna, Bihar, India. His research interests include interstitial lung diseases, pulmonary infections, and critical care pulmonology.

  • Dr. Somesh Thakur, Additional Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS Patna, Bihar, India
     

    Associate Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS Patna, Bihar, India. His areas of interest include bronchoscopy, interventional pulmonology, and respiratory critical care.

  • Dr. Javeeria Shabbir, Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS, Patna, Bihar, India
     

    Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS Patna, Bihar, India. Her interests include pulmonary medicine, bronchoscopy, and rare respiratory disorders.

  • Dr. Jisha G. Panicker, Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS, Patna, Bihar, India
     

    Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS Patna, Bihar, India. Her research interests include diffuse alveolar hemorrhage syndromes and interstitial lung diseases.

  • Dr. Sheetal Verma, Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS, Patna, Bihar, India
     

    Assistant Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS Patna, Bihar, India. Her interests include respiratory infections, interstitial lung disease, and clinical research.

  • Dr. Thaodem Collin, Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS, Patna, Bihar, India
     

    Professor and Head, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS Patna, Bihar, India. His academic interests include pulmonary medicine, interventional pulmonology, and rare lung diseases.

References

Butt A, Ahmed R, Sheikh MDA, Khan O, Iqbal N, Rahman AJ, Khan JA. Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis - A rare cause of chronic anemia. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2020;90(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2020.1267

Saha BK, Milman N. Liposteroid therapy for idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis: A scoping review of the literature. Prague Med Rep. 2022;123(2):65. https://doi.org/10.14712/23362936.2022.6

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Published

2026-06-01

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2026): June 2026 issue

Section

Section of General Medicine Research

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Krishnan Namboothiri E, Dr. Deependra Kumar Rai, Dr. Somesh Thakur, Dr. Javeeria Shabbir, Dr. Jisha G. Panicker, Dr. Sheetal Verma, Dr. Thaodem Collin

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Steroid-Responsive Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis in Adulthood: A Case Report. (2026). Student’s Journal of Health Research Africa, 7(2), 5. https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2693

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