Severe, but completely reversible heart failure in an adult with meningococcal sepsis.

A 25-year-old woman developed meningococcal septicaemia, among others complicated by a combination of cardiogenic and distributive shock requiring full haemodynamic support in the acute phase. Besides clinical course and treatment in the acute phase, we describe treatment in the recovery phase and make some comments concerning the pathophysiology. This case demonstrates the importance of intensive treatment for cardiac failure in the initial period and long-term therapy afterwards because myocardial function can be fully restored.