[An autopsy case of massive hemoptysis in systemic sarcoidosis with pulmonary granulomatous arteritis]

A 49-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of worsening of congestive heart failure on November 2000 in a state after insertion of permanent pacemaker for complete atrioventricular block in 1986, followed by a clinical history of chronic heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. After admission, her general condition had been improved, but, she had massive hemoptysis suddenly and died on February 2001. At autopsy, noncaseating granulomas were observed scattering in lungs, liver and spleen, not associated with any infectious lesions, therefore indicating systemic sarcoidosis. In lungs, granulomatous arteritis in small- and medium-sized muscular arteries associated with disputation of the media and elastic laminae were observed, suggesting the direct cause of hemoptysis. This is the extremely rare case of pulmonary arteritis with systemic sarcoidosis resulting the death from massive hemoptysis.