[Familiar Munchausen syndrome: an unusual presentation]. / Síndrome de Munchausen familiar: una presentación inusual.

Munchausen syndrome is a subtype included in factitious disorders in which somatic signs and symptoms predominate. The patient self-inflicts damage with the only objective of assuming a <

Munchausen syndrome in hematology: case reports of three variants and review of the literature.

We describe five patients with hematologic Munchausen syndrome who were discovered within 5 years. The patients presented for hematologic evaluation of coagulopathy, iron-deficiency anemia, or macrohematuria with severe anemia. The final diagnoses were phenprocoumon intake (2x), self-inflicted phlebotomy (2x), and urogenital manipulation (1x). All five patients were female ranging in age between 23 and 45 years; two were nurses. In four cases we were able to unmask the patient. We think that hematologic Munchausen syndrome has a rather uniform pattern and may be divided into three subtypes: (a) anticoagulation type, (b) anemia type, and (c) pretended hematologic form. Hematologic Munchausen syndrome should especially be considered if there is an unexplained coagulation disorder or therapy-resistant iron-deficiency anemia, and if the patient is a young female nurse who has had many hospitalizations.

[Munchausen syndrome by proxy]. / Síndrome de Munchausen por poderes.

Authors report case histories of four siblings with Munchausen syndrome by proxy. The diagnosis was made in the third daughter after six years. Two siblings had died as result of sudden unexplained death at two years old and twelve month old respectively. The mother had typical features outlined in some report. She denied the provocation of any episode and refused further psychiatric help but she accepted medical supervision. A review of the literature: warning signals, plan of action in order to assess the diagnosis and management of this problem are outlined, establishing a discussion about the repercussion of this syndrome.

Munchausen syndrome in a mother and daughter: an unusual presentation of folie à deux.

The author describes a mother and daughter, both admitted to a major medical center on the same day to the same room, and both with a clinical presentation consistent with Munchausen syndrome. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of Munchausen syndrome presenting as a folie à deux.

Munchausen syndrome by proxy in twins.

A family is described in which twin infants had repeated admissions for apparent haemoptysis. It was proved that the mother was simulating these episodes and she eventually injured one of the children with a pin. The mother has subsequently shown some evidence of a Munchausen tendency in herself.