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Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis
Other Names for this Disease
- Alveolar hypoventilation syndrome
- Hemosiderosis, pulmonary, with deficiency of gamma-a globulin
- Pulmonary hemosiderosis
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Overview
Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis is a rare disease characterized by repeated episodes of bleeding into the lungs, which can cause anemia. The body is able to remove most of the blood from the lungs, but a large amount of iron is often left behind. Over time, this iron can cause permanent damage to the lungs. Signs and symptoms usually occur after chronic blood loss or blood in the lungs. Symptoms can include coughing, difficulty breathing, and wheezing, resembling pneumonia. Affected individuals who do not have a large amount of pulmonary bleeding can do well, while others with large amounts of bleeding may only live for a few years. The cause of this condition is currently unknown.[1]
References
- Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis. Madisons Foundation. http://www.madisonsfoundation.org/index.php?option=com_mpower&task=disease&diseaseID=534. Accessed January 29, 2013.
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General Information
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- Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge. Click on the link to read information on this topic.
- PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
- The The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database contains genetics resources that discuss Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis. Click on the link to go to OMIM and review these resources.