Brain pathology in 6 fatal cases of post-transfusion hypertension, convulsion and cerebral hemorrhage syndrome.

Abstract

Six fatal cases of post-transfusion hypertension, convulsions and cerebral hemorrhage syndrome were found in a series of 76 autopsies of thalassemic patients. Five of these cases were hypertensive. At autopsy the brains were all markedly edematous and congested. Visible cerebral hemorrhages were found in 3 patients. Microscopically all cases showed small focal or perivascular hemorrhages and 1 patient had extensive arterial type hemorrhage. Microdissecting aneurysms characteristic of hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage were found in two. No underlying vascular disease was found in these 6 patients. A correlation was attempted between possible causes of post-transfusion hypertension and convulsions and anatomical findings.