Abstract

A case of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage in a three-day-old boy who was born after a labor period of more than 19 hours to a pre-eclamptic woman has been presented. The body weight of the baby at autopsy was 4,720 grams. The newborn developed a high fever, convulsion and dyspnea throughout the entire disease course. Autopsy revealed a massive hemorrhage in the adrenal glands especially in the right, replacing the majority of the adrenal tissue proper. There also was a subdural hematoma in the right parietal region. Birth trauma was assumed to be the most important contributing factor of the hemorrhage of the involved case. And it was emphasized that when the signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency appear in the infants born with difficulties, the adrenal hemorrhage should be considered first as the underlying cause.