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The subarchnoidal haemorrhage is an acute disease which has a high lethality and, therefore, in every case presents an indication for admission into an intensive-therapeutic department. It often occurs in younger age groups and appears more frequently than is assumed in general. Despite impressive clinical symptoms (suddenly beginning stabbing headache, vomiting and disturbances of consciousness of various degree of severity) the picture of the disease is not exactly diagnosed almost in every case. From 1970 to 1974 we treated 105 patients with subarachnoidal haemorrhages. In this paper is referred to the most important clinical and paraclinical parameters. Diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities are discussed.

In the GDR the apoplexy occupies the 4th place in the statistics of causes of death. It is an acute pathological process and has a firm place in emergency medicine (urgent home visit service and urgent medical aid). The symptomatology is multiform and under ambulatory conditions it may lead to considerable differential-diagnostic difficulties. In the present paper references are given taking into consideration the anamnesis (factors of risk), the clinical examination of the patient, first differential-diagnostic aspects, therapeutic methods resulting from this and suitable possibilities of hospitalisation.

Following a short discussion of hitherto known facts about glutethimid intoxications, two own cases are described. In these cases minimal amounts (2.5 and 5 g) caused haemorrhagic diatheses and acute insufficiency of the liver, which in one case were combined with acute renal insufficiency. Possible causes are discussed.