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Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Journal of Thoracic Imaging, 1(23), p. 57-59, 2008

DOI: 10.1097/rti.0b013e3181598d40

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Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage After Leflunomide Therapy in a Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis:

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This paper is available in a repository.

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Abstract

We report the case of a young man, affected by rheumatoid arthritis who developed a rapid-onset short-of-breath, hemoptysis, and severe weakness, about 2 weeks after the administration of leflunomide. Chest radiography showed central bilateral opacities and pleural effusion as confirmed by the high-resolution computed tomography that demonstrated diffuse ground-glass and interlobular septal thickening as well. On admission at the Emergency Department, a microhematuria and a severe anemia were also documented. On the basis of the clinico-radiologic presentation, a pulmonary hemorrhage was likely to occur; so to clarify the origin of this process, a complete serologic examination was performed but all the antibodies were negative. Finally a renal biopsy was performed and it showed a pauci-immunologic glomerulonephritis and the bronchioloalveolar lavage confirmed the diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. In conclusion, the diagnosis of leflunomide-pulmonary-renal syndrome was rendered. The treatment with leflunomide was suspended; the conditions of the patient gradually improved and he became completely asymptomatic I week later.