[Diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome at a regional hospital. Description and clinical course]

The clinical characteristics and evolution of 15 patients with Diffuse Pulmonar Hemorrhage Syndrome are reviewed. According to etiology diseases are classified in three groups: 1) Basal Antimembrane Antibodies disease (66.6%), 2) Vasculitis-Granulomatosis (24.6%), and 3) Idiopathic (6.6%). Pulmonary Hemorrhage was the first manifestation of the primary disease in 80% of patients and was present in 100% of those patients with anemia and opacities in chest x-Ray and in 73% of those with renal insufficiency, nephritic sediment and respiratory insufficiency. To reach the etiological diagnosis, invasive techniques were needed in order to obtain samples for the pathology exam. Three patients died (20%) and 7 had a relapse (46.6%) during the first year. It is underlined the need of an empirical aggressive treatment with steroids and immune-suppress drugs before reaching the final etiological treatment.