[Hazards of uncontrolled administration of dehydrating agents]

A 38-year-old male patient was admitted to a neurosurgical hospital department because of hemiparesis and speech disturbances which had developed during an acute febrile disease. In view of supposed brain tumour the patient had been given prior to admission to the neurosurgical department high doses of dehydrating agents which resulted in high grade dehydration of the patient. During 10 days it was possible to achieve compensation of water and electrolyte disturbances and simultaneously hemiparesis regressed and function of speech improved. Angiography ruled out presence of brain tumour. The patient had no neurological disturbances during follow-up examination 6 months after discharge from the hospital. In the case the cerebral distrubances were due probably to venous thrombosis and intensive dehydrating therapy had contributed considerably to the severe condition of the patient.