[Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis: anatomoclinical study of 2 cases]

Two children with idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis are described. Both of them presented initially a clinical picture of recurring iron deficiency anemia, before pulmonary symptoms and signs made it possible to establish correct diagnosis. In one case diagnosis was considered only when an overwhelming pulmonary hemorrhage occurred, leading to the patient's death. At necropsy, areas of fresh alveolar hemorrhage and hemosiderin loaded macrophages were found, as well as moderate to severe interstitial fibrosis and hyperplastic alveolar cells. There was not disruption of the basal alveolocapillary membrane.