Association of Pulmonary Hemosiderosis and Celiac Disease

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare disease of unknown autoimmune etiology mainly affecting children and adolescents. We report the case of an 6-years-old boy with cough and tiredness. There were no gastrointestinal symptoms were not determined. Body weight and height were in normal percentiles. Physical examination revealed cutaneous and mucosal pallor, due to severe anemia (hemoglobin 3 g/dL). Infiltrations were seen at the chest X-rays at both lungs, but markedly at left lung. In sputum examinations, hemosiderin-laden macrophages were seen. The diagnosis of IPH was made. The association of IPH and Celiac disease (CD) is well known. Searching associated CD was performed and then confirmed by biological and histological examinations. A gluten-free diet was initiated. Evolution was favorable. Searching for CD in IPH should be done, even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms.