[Systemic capillary leak syndrome: hypoalbuminemia, hemoconcentration and shock. Presentation of a case].

Systemic capillary leak syndrome is a rare disorder of unknown etiology and often recurrent episodes characterized by increased capillary permeability that allows a leakage of fluid and proteins from the circulatory system to the interstitial space leading to shock and massive edema. The lack of recognition of this disease may be due to its unespecific signs and symptons of presentation, its rapid clinical progression and high mortality of the acute episodes. General physicians are usually the first to evaluate patients with this kind of disorder, either in the pre-hospital situation, hospital emergency units or even (in the milder cases) in the health centers.

From vasospasm to early brain injury: new frontiers in subarachnoid haemorrhage research.

Introduction: Delayed vasospasm has traditionally been considered the most important determinant of poor outcome after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Consequently, most of the research and therapies are directed towards reducing the incidence of vasospasm (VSP). To date, however, clinical trials based on this strategy have not delivered a definitive treatment for preventing or reducing brain injury after SAH.

[Arreflexic coma and MELAS syndrome].

MELAS is a progressive neurodegenerative and fatal disease characterized by mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes. It is the result of a mitochondrial DNA mutation. Although the incidence of MELAS is currently unknown, it is suspected that approximately 1 out of every 5,000 persons world-wide have some type of defect in mitochondrial DNA.