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Initial Evidence Of Endothelial Cell Apoptosis As A Mechanism Of Systemic Capillary Leak Syndrome, Ragheb Assaly, Dan Olson, Jeffrey Hammersley, Pan-Sheng Fan, Jiang Liu, Joseph Shapiro, M. Kahaleh

Jiang Liu

Background: Systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is a rare disorder of unknown etiology that is characterized by acute recurrent attacks of hypovolemic shock commonly following an inflammatory stimulus such as a viral illness. Prophylactic therapy is generally ineffective, and the outcome is frequently fatal. Methods: In order to investigate the cellular mechanisms leading to SCLS, we examined the effects of sera from two patients with active SCLS on microvascular endothelial cell apoptosis in vitro. Apoptosis was determined by morphologic criteria, DNA fragmentation, annexin V stain, and by a quantitative photometric assay. The apoptotic pathway was investigated by Western blot of …