title: Looking beyond the obvious: an unusual cause of iron deficiency anaemia.
abstract: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common haematological disorder seen in childhood. While poor intake of iron is the most common cause of IDA, a diligent search must be made to exclude other causes. We present a 5 year old girl who had recurrent hospital admissions for chest infection, radiographic evidence of bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and severe IDA. When she failed to respond to repeated courses of antibiotics, anti tubercular and parenteral and oral iron therapy, a lung biopsy was done which revealed blood and hemosiderophages within the alveoli. Further investigations were suggestive of SLE (dsDNA positivity). A diagnosis of SLE induced alveolar haemorrhage was made and therapy with glucocorticoids was initiated. She has responded well to therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, 560054 India.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Jyotirmanju
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, 560054 India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mallya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, 560054 India.
authors.forename: Aarthi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rau
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, 560054 India.
authors.forename: A T K
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Rau
keywords: Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH); Iron deficiency anemia IDA; Pulmonary hemosiderosis; Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)