[Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis; long-term follow-up in 10 patients treated with corticoids and immunosuppressive agents]

Abstract A long-term follow-up of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in 10 patients treated with corticoids and immunosuppressors. Ten patients with I.P.H. are studied from the clinical, radiological, hematologic and respiratory functional viewpoints. The long-term evaluation (mean 7.4 years) is described together with the response to steroidal treatment (prednisone) associated with an immunosuppressor (6 +/- mercaptopurine). Only one out of the 9 patients did not return to control following 1 year of treatment. A relationship between the decrease or suppression of one or both drugs and the appearance of relapses is observed in all patients. Comments are made on the usefulness of the associated treatment and its administration is suggested for long periods giving prednisone every 48 hours. The possibility to discontinue both drugs is discussed, but not before the patient has remained asymptomatic for at least one year. Recent studies with ultramicroscopy tending out the pathogenesis of the disease are stressed.