肾上腺对维持体内新陈代谢、血液循环、酵素活动及抵抗力和适应力等方面均有极其重要的生理意义。肾上腺出血在临床上突发高热、循环衰竭、神志昏迷、发绀和紫斑等;常于一天内死亡。本病早在1880年Marchand氏首先于一急性紫斑症中发现肾上腺出血。1894年Voelcker氏于英国Middlesex医院报告一例暴发性紫斑伴有双侧肾上腺出血。1911年Waterhouse氏搜集以往文献凡十五例,连同他本人一例,比较详细地描述了本病的临床特征。1918年Friderichsen氏温习文献中之二 Adrenal maintenance of the body metabolism, blood circulation, enzyme activity and resistance and resilience and so has an extremely important physiological significance. Adrenal hemorrhage in clinical sudden high fever, circulatory failure, delirium, cyanosis and purple spots; often died within a day. The disease as early as 1880 Marchand first found in an acute purpura adrenal hemorrhage. In 1894 Voelcker reported a case of fulminant purple with bilateral adrenal hemorrhage at the Middlesex Hospital in England. 1911 Waterhouse’s collection of past literature where 15 cases, together with his own case, described in more detail the clinical features of the disease. 1918 Friderichsen’s second review of the literature