Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage after Receiving Oral Levonorgerstrel for Emergency Contraception: A Case Report

Drug-induced diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) has been associated with the administration of various medications, among which levonorgestrel (LN) has not been reported until now.

This case study describes a 42-year-old woman who presented with hemoptysis, hypoxemia, and radiological depiction of ground glass opacities, 3 days after she had received emergency contraceptive medication containing levonorgestrel. Emergent bronchoscopy was performed, and BAL was diagnostic of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). A thorough diagnostic approach was followed, in order to detect the underlying pathological condition that induced DAH. The absence of other identifiable pathological conditions in this patient raised suspicion of LN's potential causative role.

DAH has not been reported as an adverse effect of LN until now. However, LN has been found to exert immunomodulatory effects and to present potential for manifestations of vasculitis as well as severe hypersensitivity reactions. These mechanisms may have been implicated in the development of DAH in our patient, who presented no other pathological conditions.