title: [Hemoptysis in a young man].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We describe the development of severe and recurrent alveolar hemorrhage in a 30 year old man. The patient had presented with frank hemoptysis, that recurred after an interval of 4 weeks, associated with dyspnea and severe anemia requiring transfusion. The chest x-ray and CT scan showed bilateral diffuse ground glass shadows. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy confirmed bilateral diffuse bleeding. Investigations for the common causes of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (immunological, infective) proved to be negative on two occasions. Toxicological examination of the urine during the relapse revealed a significant level of cannabis and a trace of cocaine. The patient repeatedly denied the use of illicit drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Because of the general condition of this young patient a lung biopsy was performed by video-thoracoscopy. This showed evidence of diffuse alveolar damage compatible with inhalation of cocaine. Faced with these results the patient admitted that he regularly smoked "improved joints".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This clinical observation emphasises that the inhalation of cocaine is a cause of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage particularly in young adults.
authors.affiliation: Services de pneumologie, CHU de Charleroi, Belgique. drog@skynet.be
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hanquet
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lardinois
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cornut
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pierard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Meerhaeghe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation; D016578:Crack Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology*; D012008:Recurrence; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D014741:Video Recording
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine