Chronic systemic capillary leak syndrome. Report of a case and review of the literature.

Systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is a rare condition characterized by recurrent episodes of generalized oedema and severe hypotension, associated with paraproteinaemia. In addition to the acute form, a few cases of chronic SCLS have been reported. We describe a 64-year-old woman who was hospitalized because of a 6-month history of progressive generalized oedema with pericardial and pleural effusions, associated with a serum paraprotein. Clinical and laboratory findings were consistent with a chronic form of SCLS. Treatment with prednisone, furosemide and theophylline was started, which led to a gradual improvement in 2 weeks and a persistent remission after 9 months. This report indicates that SCLS may occur in a chronic form, which seems to be responsive to a therapeutic regimen with prednisone, furosemide, and theophylline.