PEDIATRICS Vol. 74 No. 6 December 1984, pp. 1100-1102
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Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy (Child Abuse) Presenting as Apparent Autoerythrocyte Sensitization Syndrome: An Unusual Presentation of Polle Syndrome

Gary D. Clark MD1, Janice D. Key MD1, Patricia Rutherford RN1, and William G. Bithoney MD1

1 From the Comprehensive Child Health Program, The Children's Hospital, Boston

Munchausen's syndrome was initially described in 1951. It has become increasingly recognized since that time. Recently, Munchausen's syndrome by proxy or Polle syndrome has been described. In this disease entity, a parent causes a factitious disease in a child. The disease may require extensive medical testing and the result may even be death. A wide variety of presentations of Polle syndrome have been reported including cardiac arrest, recurrent sepsis, and factitious bleeding. Autoerythrocyte sensitization, a syndrome of spontaneous purpura, was initially described in 1955. The diagnostic test described is intradermal injection of autologous blood which produces an area of painful purpura. The syndrome is therefore postulated to be due to hypersensitivity in the patient's own RBCs. The majority of patients with autoerythrocyte sensitization have had psychiatric disorders and the symptoms have improved only with psychotherapy. An infant who had a clinical picture of autoerythrocyte sensitization and who was later found to be a victim of Polle syndrome is reported.

Key Words: Polk syndrome • autoerythrocyte sensitization syndrome • child abuse • Munchausen syndrome

Submitted on April 16, 1984
Accepted on July 20, 1984




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