Diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage as a fatal complication of Schönlein-Henoch purpura.
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.
Usui
Keiko
K
Department of Dermatology, Surugadai Nihon University Hospital, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan. kusui@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
Ochiai
Toyoko
T
Muto
Ritsuko
R
Abe
Ikuko
I
Aikawa
Miwa
M
Kikushima
Kimio
K
Nagao
Ken
K
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
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents