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

Systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is a rare condition characterized b y recurrent episodes of generalized oedema and severe hypotension, associat ed with paraproteinaemia. In addition to the acute form, a few cases of chr onic SCLS have been reported. We describe a 64-year-old woman who was hospi talized because of a 6-month history of progressive generalized oedema with pericardial and pleural effusions, associated with a serum paraprotein. Cl inical 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.