Successful Treatment with Liposteroid in an Infant Case of Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis

Abstract

A 6-month-old male infant was referred for evaluation of anemia. Severe iron deficiency anemia, respiratory distress with increased lung field density dominantly in dorsal zone of chest CT images, and hemosiderin-laden macrophage (siderophage) in the gastric juice confirmed a diagnosis of IPH. In the management of our patient, the significant observations were : (1) the efficacy of corticosteroid “pulse” therapy for reducing acute exacerbation of IPH; (2) the possibility of intravenous liposteroid (corticosteroid incorporated in lipid emulsion) to prevent relapse. Liposteroid has a specific drug-delivery system so that corticosteroid can act mainly in inflammatory tissue. We consider that liposteroid may provide good long-term control of the disease.