pulmonary hemosiderosis

pathology

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Pulmonary hemosiderosis is a condition where excessive iron, in the form of hemosiderin, accumulates in the lung tissues. This typically occurs due to bleeding within the lungs or the breakdown of red blood cells. While it involves the deposition of iron, it is usually not accompanied by tissue damage. This condition can be associated with other respiratory issues and diseases affecting blood vessels, such as Goodpasture syndrome or lupus erythematosus. Diagnosis has improved with advancements in radiological methods, pulmonary function tests, and less invasive lung biopsy techniques.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

respiratory disease
Immunologic conditions
…of a condition known as pulmonary hemosiderosis, which results in the accumulation of the iron-containing substance hemosiderin in the lung tissues. The lung may also be involved in a variety of ways in the disease known as systemic lupus erythematosus, which is also believed to have an immunologic basis. Pleural…
Read More
…of a condition known as pulmonary hemosiderosis, which results in the accumulation of the iron-containing substance hemosiderin in the lung tissues. The lung may also be involved in a variety of ways in the disease known as systemic lupus erythematosus, which is also believed to have an immunologic basis. Pleural…
Read More