HEMOTHORAX AFTER LUPRON THERAPY OF A PATIENT WITH PLEURAL ENDOMETRIOSIS - A CASE-REPORT AND LITERATURE-REVIEW

Background-Pulmonary endometrial implants, although uncommon, have bee n well described in the literature. Symptoms occur with menses and may include recurrent pleuritic chest pain, pneumothorax, hemoptysis, or hemothorax. Exacerbation of pulmonary symptoms by Lupron therapy has n ot been previously described. Case Report-A 38-year-old African-Americ an female with known endometriosis but no history of pulmonary disease was evaluated for a 2-year history of severe dysmenorrhea. A trial of hormonal suppression was unsuccessful, and she was offered Lupron the rapy. Three weeks after its initiation, and shortly after the onset of menses, she came to the emergency room with pleuritic chest pain and shortness of breath and was found to have a right-sided hemopneumothor ax. Thoracentesis treatment was successful in eliminating this symptom . Conclusion-Although pulmonary endometriosis is rare, physicians shou ld be aware that Lupron therapy can exacerbate pulmonary symptoms duri ng the initial phase of therapy.