Desmopressin therapy for massive hemoptysis associated with severe leptospirosis.

Massive hemoptysis in patients with severe leptospirosis is often resistant to conventional therapies and can rapidly become fatal. Desmopressin is a fast-acting blood-saving agent used in various hereditary and acquired clotting disorders. We used desmopressin infusions to treat massive pulmonary hemorrhage in six leptospirosis patients with respiratory failure, shock, and multiple organ dysfunction.

[Respiratory complications of leptospirosis. Apropos of 6 cases, 3 of which show hemodynamic studies].

Six cases of leptospirosis with pulmonary complications are reported. Three cases were accompanying an hepato-nephritis due to L. icterohaemorrhagiae.

[Unusual cause of digestive hemorrhage in chronic hemodialysis patients: splenic aneurysm with arteriovenous fistula].

A 45 years old woman, hemodialysed since 1981, with an history of Staphylococcal septicemia in may 1983, is admitted in emergency room in may 1984 for massive gastro intestinal bleeding. After oesogastro fibroscopy suspecting duodenal ulcer, because continuous and recurrent bleeding, a laparotomy find only symptoms of portal hypertension (ascites, venous dilatation on abdominal oesophagus and stomach). The ligation of this venous dilatations stop temporarily the gastro intestinal bleeding.