High-Volume Plasma Exchange in a Patient With Acute Liver Failure Due to Non-Exertional Heat Stroke in a Sauna

Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition characterized by an increased core body temperature (over 40 degrees C) and a systemic inflammatory response, which may lead to a syndrome of multiple organ dysfunction. Heat stroke may be due to either strenuous exercise or non-exercise-induced exposure to a high environmental temperature. Current management of heat stroke is mostly supportive, with an emphasis on cooling the core body temperature and preventing the development of multiple organ dysfunction. Prognosis of heat stroke depends on the severity of organ involvement. Here, we report a rare case of non-exercise-induced heat stroke in a 73-year-old male patient who was suffering from acute liver failure after prolonged exposure in a hot sauna room. We successfully managed this patient by administering high-volume plasma exchange, and the patient recovered completely after treatment. J. Clin. Apheresis 29:281-283, 2014. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.