[Alveolar hemorrhage associated with sarcoidosis].

BACKGROUND

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown origin. We report an unusual case associated with alveolar haemorrhage.

METHODS

An 18-year-old caucasian man was admitted for recent dyspnea. He reported regular tobacco- and occasional cannabis smoking. Lung CT scan revealed mediastinal lymphadenopathy and lung nodules in both fields. Bronchoalveolar lavage recovered bloody alveolar fluid containing many siderophages. Because of rapid deterioration leading to acute respiratory failure, intravenous corticosteroid treatment was started. Improvement was obtained in few days and a diagnosis of sarcoidosis was established based on lymph node biopsy performed under mediastinoscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

This unusual case and those reported in the literature give us the opportunity to describe the characteristics of alveolar haemorrhage associated with sarcoidosis.