Oedema developing in the course of gastro-intestinal disorders of infancy has been noted in America by Maver (1920) and in Egypt by Shawki. It was of the same character as that which developed in adults during times of war and famine, as in Poland during the Great War, when the food available was of low caloric value (1200-1400 cal. per day) and no meat was obtained for months. The oedema, thou...

Fixation of lungs at necropsy by inflation with formaldehyde vapour was used in a combined radiological and pathological study of pulmonary oedema. Pulmonary oedema was found in 79% of lungs examined. The earliest phases affect the interstitial tissue with oedematous connective tissue planes and distension of pulmonary lymphatics. These changes may be associated with reduction in the compliance...

CASE 1 A 74 year old white man presented with an abrupt onset of metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and interphalangeal (IP) joint pains associated with swelling of both hands. He had two hours of morning stiVness but no other joint complaints or history of constitutional symptoms. Past medical history was unremarkable except for diabetes mellitus type 2 treated with oral antidiabetic drugs. Examination...

Clinical details are given of two patients who developed ipsilateral pulmonary oedema following re-expansion of their spontaneous pneumothoraces by intercostal drainage of air. The possible mechanisms underlying the oedema are discussed, and prior literature is analysed. Reference is made particularly to its predictability and to precautions recommended to minimize the frequency of this potenti...

In this paper I propose to attempt to evaluate our knowledge of the mechanisms of acute pulmonary oedema in experimental animals, and to enquire how far it can be applied to our understanding of the phenomenon in man. Our knowledge of the mechanisms of lung oedema is extremely meagre; yet in some respects it may be integrated, with advantage to future investigations. The first issue which shoul...

Jasani KM, et al. BMJ Case Rep 2017. doi:10.1136/bcr-2016-218912 Description A 54-year-old female with history of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) was switched from interferon beta-1A (Avonex, Biogen) to fingolimod (Gilenya, Novartis) therapy after having two clinical relapses within 2 years while on treatment. As part of her treatment protocol, she was referred to the local ophthalm...

Prof. Paola Romagnani, Dr. Calogero Cirami, Prof. Maurizio Salvadori: A 31-year-old woman came to our observation because of persisting oedema. Three years before, the patient underwent allogenic stem cell transplantation from her HLA identical brother because she suffered from an acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The leukaemia was FAB L1 peroxidase negative and 60% of the cells in the bone marrow...

Contrary to popular belief, little fluid is reabsorbed by the capillary and most of it is returned to the circulation via the lymphatic. Lymph drainage begins in thin-walled, superficial initial lymphatics with wide (14 nm) oblique intercellular junctions that function as flap valves. They freely allow passage of fluid and protein into the lymphatic but prevent back flow. The initial lymphatics...

Pulmonary oedema of immersion is a rare complication of scuba diving. A case and brief discussion of the differential diagnosis and pathophysiology are presented. Onset of symptoms typically occurs during the dive, and is characterized by dyspnoea, cough and frothy sputum. Spontaneous recovery frequently occurs once the diver leaves the water. If investigated, the findings are of hypoxaemia and...

The following corneal conditions will be considered: (1) pressure oedema; (2) oedema following endothelial damage; (3) persistent folds in Descemet's membrane; (4) vascularization; (5) lipoid infiltration; (6) band-shape degeneration. Oedema of the cornea caused by a sudden elevation of intra-ocular pressure is a diagnostic feature of acute angle-closure glaucoma. If the intra-ocular pressure r...