Hemoptysis in a referral hospital for pulmonology.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the main causes of hemoptysis and to classify this symptom, in terms of the amount of blood expectorated, in patients hospitalized at a referral hospital for pulmonology.


METHODS
The study included 50 patients with hemoptysis admitted to the pulmonology ward of a general hospital in the city of Recife, Brazil, between July of 2005 and February of 2006. The data of interest were analyzed and compared with those in the literature.


RESULTS
The most common cause of hemoptysis was infection--in 39 patients (78%)--mostly related to tuberculosis sequelae or active tuberculosis. Regarding the severity of hemoptysis, moderate hemoptysis, diagnosed in 28 patients (56%), was the most common.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that all patients who present with hemoptysis should be investigated for infection.
Lundgren
Fernando Luiz Cavalcanti
FL
Hospital Geral Otávio de Freitas, Recife, PE, Brasil. lundgrenf@gmail.com
Costa
Ana Maria
AM
Figueiredo
Lícia Caldas
LC
Borba
Paola Colares
PC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult