[Pheochromocytoma and shock]

Abstract

In phaechromocytomas with predominant beta-adrenergic activity in a short time develop hypovolaemia and shock due to capillary transudation and profuse sweating. On the basis of an own observation the following symptoms may be summarized: signs of centralisation such as cold, pale, sweat-covered skin, cool extremities in increased nuclear temperature, clear decrease of the blood pressure, tachycardia, arrhythmia, signs of the left heart insufficiency and considerable changes of the ECG as an expression of a catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy, strong abdominal pains, strong feeling of thirst in isotonic dehydration, oliguria and metabolic acidosis. In patients with shock syndrome of unclear etiology should also be thought of a phaeochromocytoma after exclusion of the most frequent causes.