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Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome

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Encyclopedia of Pathology

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Pathology ((EP))

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Definition

Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome is a life-threatening disease associated with bilateral adrenal hemorrhage caused by different systemic bacterial and viral infections including, among others, Streptococcus pneumonia, Hemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Rickettsia rickettsii, Bacillus anthracis, Treponema pallidum, Legionella pneumophila, Cytomegalovirus, Parvovirus B19, Epstein-Barr virus, and Varicella zoster virus (Karki et al. 2021). Other possible causes involved in the development of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage are trauma to the adrenal glands, especially if associated with thrombocytopenia or the use of anticoagulants (Vella et al. 2001).

Clinical Features

  • Incidence

    Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome is a rare clinical emergency. Its exact incidence and prevalence are not well known, but it has been observed in about 1% in autopsy series (Xarli et al., 1978).

  • Age

    The disease is...

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References

  • Karki, B. R., Sedhai, Y. R., & Bokhari, S. R. A. (2021). Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome. In StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.

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  • Udobi, K. F., & Childs, E. W. (2001). Adrenal crisis after traumatic bilateral adrenal hemorrhage. The Journal of Trauma, 51, 597–600.

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  • Vella, A., Nippoldt, T. B., & Morris, J. C. (2001). Adrenal hemorrhage: a 25-year experience at the Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 76, 161–168.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xarli, V. P., Steele, A. A., Davis, P. J., Buescher, E. S., Rios, C. N., & Garcia-Bunuel, R. (1978). Adrenal hemorrhage in the adult. Medicine (Baltimore), 57, 211–221.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pathology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, and Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

    Stefano La Rosa

Authors
  1. Stefano La Rosa
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Correspondence to Stefano La Rosa .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NIJMEGEN, The Netherlands

    J.H.J.M. van Krieken

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La Rosa, S. (2022). Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome. In: van Krieken, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pathology. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_5562-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_5562-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28845-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28845-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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