Severe pulmonary hemorrhage in patients with serious group A streptococcal infections: report of two cases.

Abstract

Severe pulmonary hemorrhage was observed in two patients who died of serious group A streptococcal infections. These two patients initially presented with fever and sore throat. This was followed by sudden onset of septicemia caused by the bacteria and by the subsequent development of severe pulmonary hemorrhage. Hemoptysis, cyanosis, and dyspnea were observed prior to death in both cases. This pulmonary lesion resulted in asphyxia and sudden death in one patient. Pathological examinations of the lung revealed severe intraalveolar hemorrhage, with no evidence of inflammation or necrosis of the pulmonary tissue. There was no evidence of aspiration of blood due to hemorrhage in the upper respiratory or alimentary tract. This visceral lesion appears to be an hitherto undescribed, novel clinicopathologic feature of patients with serious group A streptococcal infections.