title: Diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage as a fatal complication of Schönlein-Henoch purpura.
abstract: We report a case of a 69-year-old man with Schönlein-Henoch purpura who developed diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage. He complained of dyspnea and hemoptysis while he was treated with steroids for gastroenteropathy associated with Schönlein-Henoch purpura. The drop in his hemoglobin levels and diffuse ground-glass opacity at all levels of the lung fields on chest computed tomography were a significant clue to diagnosis. Despite pulse therapy, no clinical improvement of the lung was achieved, and he died on the 36th day after the admission. Although the combination of the corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents is normally recommended, diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage could become a fatal complication in elderly Schönlein-Henoch patients.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Surugadai Nihon University Hospital, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan. kusui@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
authors: Keiko
authors: K
authors: Usui
authors: Toyoko
authors: T
authors: Ochiai
authors: Ritsuko
authors: R
authors: Muto
authors: Ikuko
authors: I
authors: Abe
authors: Miwa
authors: M
authors: Aikawa
authors: Kimio
authors: K
authors: Kikushima
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Nagao
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents