Alveolar hemorrhage and pulmonary hypertension in systemic sclerosis: a continuum of scleroderma renal crisis?

Alveolar hemorrhage occurs as a complication of systemic inflammatory diseases. In addition to alveolar hemorrhage, patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) may suffer from digital infarction, pulmonary hypertension, and renal crisis. Although a common pathogenesis of this disease that explains the variety of problems during a patient's illness has yet to be identified, the unique characteristics of SSc may alter our approach to alveolar hemorrhage in this patient population. We describe a patient with SSc, who presented with pulmonary hypertension and alveolar hemorrhage complicated by features suggesting re-occurrence of scleroderma renal crisis. Our successful management of this patient, with complications that are usually of high morbidity, may be attributed to our judicious use of glucocorticosteroid therapy and maximization of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition. In view of the potential for glucocorticoids to precipitate scleroderma renal crisis, we suggest caution in the use of these medications for manifestations that may be similar in their pathogenesis.