Hemoptysis as the presenting symptom in bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia

Abstract

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is an uncommon but increasingly recognized pulmonary entity that usually presents with symptoms of dyspnea, cough, and fever. The medical literature describes rare cases of hemoptysis in BOOP, with very small quantities of blood expectorated. We describe two cases of BOOP, one idiopathic and one in association with rheumatoid arthritis, in which large-quantity hemoptysis was the primary presenting symptom.