Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 11, 2025
08:58
Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
Published on: October 31, 2025
403
Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in infants: Report of five cases
E Gkogkou1, I Broux2, C Kempeneers1
1Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Liege, Belgium.
Respiratory Medicine Case Reports
|August 18, 2020
Summary
Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a rare, life-threatening condition in infants. This study highlights varied causes and emphasizes prompt diagnosis through clinical signs and bronchoscopy for effective treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Neonatology
Background:
- Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a critical pediatric condition involving lung microvascular bleeding into alveolar spaces.
- It presents with hemoptysis, anemia, and pulmonary infiltrates, often associated with other organ dysfunction.
- Classifications include immune and non-immune etiologies, cardiac or non-cardiac origins, and idiopathic cases.
Observation:
- This study details five full-term infants diagnosed with DAH between 3 and 18 weeks of age.
- All presented with hemoptysis, dyspnea, anemia, and abnormal chest X-rays, leading to DAH suspicion.
- Diagnosis was confirmed via bronchoscopy, with further tests to identify specific causes.
Findings:
- The identified etiologies in these infants included infections, idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, accidental suffocation, and Heiner syndrome.
- Treatment primarily involved oral corticosteroids, with one patient receiving antimicrobial therapy.
Implications:
- Early recognition of DAH symptoms in infants is crucial for timely diagnosis and intervention.
- Understanding the diverse etiologies is essential for targeted pediatric critical care management.
- This case series underscores the importance of bronchoscopy in confirming DAH and guiding treatment strategies.
