Summary
Several clinical pictures which may allow a better understanding of the pathogenesis of fat embolism have been presented. The well-known picture of systemic embolism and vascular disease has been contrasted with those cases where emboli are not observed. Cases of petechial rash and retinal haemorrhage without other signs have been reported to illustrate that there are two phases of the disease: mechanical and metabolic. Metabolic phenomena may be the inaugurating signs or may occur secondarily, with varying degrees of severity, after petechiae and fundoscopic alterations have developed. A complete description of the different clinical pictures which may be seen in fat embolism requires that one includes the findings in the optic fundi. Ophthalmoscopic findings in our group of 30 patients have been detailed.
Biochemical research points to the role played not only by fatty acids, but also the lyso-derivatives, metabolites of phospholipids. These biochemical findings permit a more complete understanding of the pathogenesis of fat embolism and suggest possibilities for progress in specific therapy.
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Arbus, L., Fabre, J., Bechac, G. et al. Clinical, ophthalmoscopic and biological findings in systemic fat embolism. Acta neurochir 29, 89–104 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01414620
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01414620