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A particularly severe case of Guillain-Barré syndrome occurring during pregnancy is reported. The therapeutic approach including plasmapheresis, ventilation, analgesia, sedation, metabolic requirements and heparin therapy is discussed with the consequences on foetal development and the early days of life.

Cardiac arrhythmias and circulatory collapse account for the high mortality reported after severe chloroquine poisoning. We have recently observed a 17-year-old man who ingested an 8 g chloroquine overdose. Cardiac arrest occurred within 1 h. Cardiogenic shock was refractory to epinephrine, dopamine and molar sodium lactate. Amrinone, a bipyridine analog, was then successfully used to improve haemodynamic conditions.