Hemoptysis in a referral hospital for pulmonology.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the main causes of hemoptysis and to classify this symptom, in terms of the amount of blood expectorated, in patients hospitalized at a referral hospital for pulmonology. METHODS: The study included 50 patients with hemoptysis admitted to the pulmonology ward of a general hospital in the city of Recife, Brazil, between July of 2005 and February of 2006. The data of interest were analyzed and compared with those in the literature. RESULTS: The most common cause of hemoptysis was infection--in 39 patients (78%)--mostly related to tuberculosis sequelae or active tuberculosis. Regarding the severity of hemoptysis, moderate hemoptysis, diagnosed in 28 patients (56%), was the most common. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that all patients who present with hemoptysis should be investigated for infection.