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A young woman is described who periodically and inexplicably suffered a sudden phenomenal loss of plasma from her vascular bed and in whom hypovolemia and shock developed. The major episodes of increased capillary permeability usually occurred in the premenstrual period; however, identical episodes continued to occur in irregular fashion following removal of her uterus and ovaries. The disastrous consequences of this sudden increase in capillary permeability, which finally resulted in her death, are described in detail. The underlying reason for the sudden changes in capillary permeability in this patient is not known.