lung and airway disorders
Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage
Diagnosis of Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage
Computed tomography scan of chest Sometimes insertion of a flexible viewing tube into the lungs (bronchoscopy) with fluid wash out (bronchoalveolar lavage) Doctors can often diagnose diffuse alveolar hemorrhage by a person's symptoms and chest imaging findings. If the diagnosis is not clear based on symptoms and chest imaging findings (for example, if the person has not coughed up blood), doctors may need to insert a flexible viewing tube into the lungs ( Bronchoscopy ) and wash out the lungs with fluid ( The level of red cells in the blood is measured to test for anemia. After diffuse alveolar hemorrhage has been diagnosed, the cause must be determined. A variety of blood tests may be done, depending on what disorders seem to be likely causes. Urinalysis is done to tell whether the person has kidney damage, characteristic of the Pulmonary-Renal Syndrome . Sometimes, when a cause remains unclear after these tests or the progression of disease is rapid, biopsy of the lungs or kidneys may be needed. 