Haemorrhagic shock-encephalopathy syndrome: plasmapheresis as a therapeutic approach.

We present the case of a 4.5-week-old boy with acute encephalopathy, shock, intestinal bleeding and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The clinical course and typical laboratory parameters were compatible with a diagnosis of haemorrhagic shock-encephalopathy syndrome (HSE). Immediate shock treatment, repeated haemodialysis and plasmapheresis did not prevent a fatal outcome 4 days after the onset of clinical symptoms.