[Pathogenetic interactions between veno-occlusive disease and sideroelastosis pulmonum? (author's transl)]

The clinicopathologic findings in a case of a 66-year-old woman who died 19 days after admission to the hospital for treatment of chronic bronchitis and cor pulmonale are presented. Pathoanatomic investigation revealed striking features of pulmonary sideroelastosis, including fragmentation and iron impregnation of pulmonary elastic fibers. Simultaneously, the pulmonary veins showed alterations similar to those described as "veno-occlusive disease": numerous small and medium-sized pulmonary veins were stenosed or completely obliterated by fibrous intimal connective tissue. The etiology of the pulmonary lesions is discussed on the basis of previously published cases. The possibility of a causal relationship between sideroelastosis and veno-occlusion is considered.