A 34-Year-Old Man With Fragile Vessels and Recurrent Hemoptysis

Chest. 2025 Jan;167(1):e19-e23. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2024.06.3812.

Abstract

A 34-year-old man who did not use tobacco complained of hemoptysis with a small volume, severe dry cough, and low-grade fever for 5 months. He denied dyspnea, chest pain, night sweats, or weight loss. Chest CT scanning showed nodules with a cavity in the lower left lung. Pathogenic tests of BAL fluid were negative. Initially, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and received antibiotics. After a week, his symptoms resolved, and he was discharged from the hospital. Two months later, the patient presented again for the onset of dry cough and hemoptysis. Despite symptomatic treatment, his symptoms and chest CT scans had no improvement. Thereby, he was referred to our institution. He was prone to spontaneous bruising since childhood with a family history of spontaneous cerebral aneurysm. At 21 years of age, the patient underwent an appendectomy because of a suspected perforation. Also, he experienced cerebral hemorrhage 3 years earlier.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Hemoptysis* / diagnosis
  • Hemoptysis* / etiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Recurrence
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed