Hydatid disease, caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus, is common in Mediterranean regions, being highly endemic in Greece. Depending on its size, an intact hydatid cyst may be "silent" or may cause symptoms from compression of adjacent organs. Rupture of a hydatid cyst commonly gives to allergic phenomena, which can include anaphylactic shock. A case is presented in which there was a two-year history of recurrent anaphylactic shock due to small, incomplete ruptures of hydatid cyst. The case emphasizes the potentially life-saving importance of early diagnosis of hydatid cyst.

Bronchospasm is a known side effect of the administration of β-blockers to asthmatics. The purpose of this study was to investigate (1) the frequency of bronchospasm caused by the administration of relatively low doses (2.5–7.5 mg) of pindolol, a β-blocker with intrinsic sympathetic activity (ISA) to asthmatics, (2) the severity of the bronchospasm and its reversibility and (3) the probable correlations of bronchial asthma (BA) characteristics (severity, duration, allergy and airway hyperreactivity) with existing or nonexisting bronchospasm. Seventeen asthmatic patients: 10 men and 7 women, with a mean age of 44 ± 10 years, participated in this study. The duration and severity of B A, the presence of allergy determined by skin tests and the bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine inhalation challenge were observed on the first day of study. On the following days, the respiratory function parameters forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁), and the pulse rate were measured before and 30, 60 and 90 min after the administration of placebo and pindolol. Then saibutamol was administered by a dosimetric aerosol (DA) at the usual dosage (200 µg) and the change in FEV₁ was observed at 60 min; thereafter 40 µg of ipratropium bromide (IB) were administered by DA and FEV₁ was measured after 60 min. Pindolol was administered gradually by mouth (2.5 mg every 30 min), the maximal total dose being 7.5 mg. Administration of pindolol caused a significant fall of FEV₁ of 12 ± 11 % compared to placebo. A significant total decrease of FEV₁ (≧20% of baseline) was observed in 9 patients. Saibutamol did not have any effect on the decrease of FEV₁ 60 min after its administration, while IB brought FEV₁ back to its initial normal value 60 min later, in all except 1 patient. The only significant correlation between bronchial asthma characteristics and pindolol-induced bronchospasm was between airway hyperreactivity and bronchoconstriction

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