scholarly journals When a Seemingly Harmless Prescription Turns into Toxicity

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zurab Azmaiparashvili ◽  
Kevin Bryan Lo ◽  
Nawal Habib ◽  
Annie Hsieh
Keyword(s):  
Renal Function ◽  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Herpes Zoster ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Mental Status ◽  
Complete Resolution ◽  
Impaired Renal Function ◽  
Supportive Therapy ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Altered Mental Status

Valacyclovir neurotoxicity is commonly seen in the elderly and those with impaired renal function. Differential diagnosis can be challenging as a myriad of medical conditions, including herpes zoster virus associated encephalitis, may present in a similar fashion. We present a case of a 71-year-old male who presented with altered mental status in the setting of recent herpes zoster eruption. His condition was attributed to valacyclovir neurotoxicity, and initiation of appropriate supportive therapy was met with complete resolution of symptoms and normalization of cognitive function.

scholarly journals The Optimal Management of Acute Febrile Encephalopathy in the Aged Patient: A Systematic Review

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fereshte Sheybani ◽  
HamidReza Naderi ◽  
Sareh Sajjadi
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mental Status ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Cns Infection ◽  
Geriatric Syndrome ◽  
World Population ◽  
Main Process ◽  
Optimal Management ◽  
Language Restriction

The elderly comprise less than 13 percent of world population. Nonetheless, they represent nearly half of all hospitalized adults. Acute change in mental status from baseline is commonly seen among the elderly even when the main process does not involve the central nervous system. The term “geriatric syndrome” is used to capture those clinical conditions in older people that do not fit into discrete disease categories, including delirium, falls, frailty, dizziness, syncope, and urinary incontinence. Despite the growing number of elderly population, especially those who require hospitalization and the high burden of common infections accompanied by encephalopathy among them, there are several unresolved questions regarding the optimal management they deserve. The questions posed in this systematic review concern the need to rule out CNS infection in all elderly patients presented with fever and altered mental status in the routine management of febrile encephalopathy. In doing so, we sought to identify all potentially relevant articles using searches of web-based databases with no language restriction. Finally, we reviewed 93 research articles that were relevant to each part of our study. No prospective study was found to address how should AFE in the aged be optimally managed.

scholarly journals Fat Embolism and Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Yanetsy Olivera Arencibia ◽  
Mai Vo ◽  
Jennifer Kinaga ◽  
Jorge Uribe ◽  
Gloria Velasquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Status Epilepticus ◽  
Mental Status ◽  
Supportive Therapy ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Fat Embolism ◽  
Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus ◽  
Altered Level ◽  
Fat Embolism Syndrome ◽  
Embolism Syndrome ◽  
Wide Range

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) typically occurs following orthopedic trauma and may present with altered mental status and even coma. Nonconvulsive status epilepticus is an electroclinical state associated with an altered level of consciousness but lacking convulsive motor activity and has been reported in fat embolism. The diagnosis is clinical and is treated with supportive care, antiepileptic therapy, and sedation. A 56-year-old male presented with altered mental status following internal fixation for an acute right femur fracture due to a motor vehicle accident 24 hours earlier. Continued neuromonitoring revealed nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed multiple bilateral acute cerebral infarcts with a specific pattern favoring the diagnosis of fat embolism syndrome. He was found to have a significant right to left intracardiac shunt on a transesophageal echocardiogram. He improved substantially over time with supportive therapy, was successfully extubated on day 6, and discharged to inpatient rehabilitation on postoperative day 15. Fat embolisms can result in a wide range of neurologic manifestations. Nonrefractory nonconvulsive status epilepticus that responds to antiepileptic drugs, sedation, and supportive therapy can have a favorable outcome. A high index of suspicion and early recognition reduces the chances of unnecessary interventions and may improve survival.

Altered Mental Status in the Elderly

1984 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 653-665
Author(s):  
Bruce L. Miller ◽  
Stephen L. Read ◽  
Michael E. Mahler ◽  
D. Frank Benson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Status ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Altered Mental Status

Heat Stroke

2018 ◽  
pp. 332-335
Author(s):  
Alexander Berk
Keyword(s):  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Mental Status ◽  
Heat Stroke ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Healthy Person ◽  
Clinical Suspicion ◽  
Metabolic Abnormalities ◽  
Airway Protection ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
High Clinical Suspicion

This case illustrates heat stroke presenting as altered mental status in a young healthy person. The differential diagnosis of altered mental status with hyperthermia is broad so a high clinical suspicion is needed to make the diagnosis of heat stroke. Infectious causes should always be ruled out. Once the diagnosis is made, treatment is aimed at actively cooling the patient, lowering temperature to a targeted goal of 102.2°F. Close attention should also be given to airway protection, correction of metabolic abnormalities, evaluation for rhabdomyolysis, and monitoring for cardiac dysrhythmias. All heat stroke patients should be admitted to the hospital for monitoring even after cooling goals are achieved.

Screening for impaired cognitive function among the elderly in Spain: reducing the number of items in the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire

1999 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isolde Gornemann ◽  
Marı́a Victoria Zunzunegui ◽  
Carmen Martı́nez ◽  
Marı́a del Carmen Onı́s
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Mental Status ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Impaired Cognitive Function

scholarly journals Non-convulsive status epilepticus: an often-overlooked etiology of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 2251
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Davis ◽  
Rima Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Status Epilepticus ◽  
Mental Status ◽  
Hormone Secretion ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Convulsive Status Epilepticus ◽  
Chronic Medical Conditions ◽  
Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion ◽  
Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion ◽  
Chronic Hyponatremia

Altered mental status is a common presenting complaint in adult medicine with a broad differential diagnosis. When found in the context of chronic medical conditions, less common etiologies can be overlooked. We present a case of acute altered mental status thought to be secondary to acute on chronic hyponatremia in the context of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), eventually diagnosed as non-convulsive status epilepticus, partial type. We report the case of a 67-year-old patient with known SIADH of unknown etiology, hypertension, chronic pancreatitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who presented with fatigue, myalgia, decreased urine output. On presentation patient also had profound acute on chronic hyponatremia. During sodium correction, the patient developed an acute, progressive decline in mental status. Vital signs remained stable and workup including LP and MRI were negative. Initial electroencephalographic (EEG) showed no definitive seizure activity, but did show bifrontal focal continuous slowing. The patient’s mental status continued to decline and upon further evaluation it was suggested that the EEG findings and the patient’s progressive AMS could be compatible with non-convulsive status epilepticus. The patient received loading doses of IV lorazepam and levetiracetam and within 48 hours after initial treatment was back to baseline. Non-convulsive status epilepticus is a common, but heterogeneous subclass of status epilepticus that is difficult to diagnose. This case demonstrates the difficulty of diagnosing normalized corrected Shannon entropy (NCSE) in the context of other chronic medical conditions and the importance of including it on any differential diagnosis for acute change in mental status. 

Altered mental status in the elderly

2016 ◽  
pp. 58-70
Author(s):  
Josh Joseph ◽  
Maura Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Status ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Altered Mental Status

scholarly journals Unusual presentation of meningococcal meningitis in the elderly and utility of CSF PCR testing

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Ranson ◽  
Hannah Ship ◽  
Omai Garner ◽  
Shangxin Yang ◽  
Debika Bhattacharya
Keyword(s):  
Mental Status ◽  
Unusual Case ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Meningococcal Meningitis ◽  
Unusual Presentation ◽  
Nuchal Rigidity

We present an unusual case of a previously healthy 74-year-old man who presented with diffuse weakness, severe myalgias, petechial palmar rash and hypotension, but without fever, altered mental status, nuchal rigidity or headache, who was ultimately found through PCR testing to have meningococcal meningitis.

scholarly journals P0798ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RENAL DYSFUNCTION AND GENERAL COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN COMMUNITY DWELLING OLDER ADULTS: KOREAN FRAILTY AND AGING COHORT STUDY

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiyoon Kong ◽  
Jin Sug Kim ◽  
Min Hye Kang ◽  
Shin Yeong Kang ◽  
Ri Ra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Renal Function ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Renal Dysfunction ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background and Aims Cognitive impairment is common in older adults. Similarly, the prevalence of renal dysfunction is also increased in the elderly. We conducted this study to clarify the relationship between the renal function and cognitive impairment in community dwelling older adults in Korea. Method A cross-sectional analysis was performed on the data of the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS), a nationwide cohort study that began in 2016. Of the 3014 participants assessed in the first and second year, 2847 participants (1333 men, 1514 women) who completed baseline assessments were enrolled. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, mL/min/1.73m2) was calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. Renal function of the participants was classified into four groups by eGFR quartile. General cognitive function was accessed with mini-mental state exam in the Korean version (MMSE-KC). Participants who had MMSE-KC score less than 1.5 standard deviation by age, gender, and education level were regarded as the cognitive impairment. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to examine the relationship between renal function and cognitive impairment. In addition, we investigated to find the point of eGFR interval at which the odds ratio begins to increase. Results The mean eGFR in quartile 1 was 91.7 ± 3.22 ml/min/1.73m2, and 84.9 ± 1.81 in quartile 2, 76.1 ± 3.66 in quartile 3, and 57.2 ± 10.75 in quartile 4. In baseline characteristics, participants with lower eGFR had lower MMSE-KC scores. And the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 10.8% in quartile 1, 15.9% in quartile 2, 15.2% in quartile 3, 14.9% in quartile 4. After multivariate adjustment, the odds ratio (OR) of cognitive impairment in quartile 2 [adjusted OR: 1.569, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.141 - 2.158, p = 0.006] compared with quartile 1. And the odd ratios of cognitive impairment were 1.539 (95% CI: 1.113 - 2.127, p = 0.009) in quartile 3, 1.475 (95% CI: 1.062 - 2.049, p = 0.020) in quartile 4 compared with quartile 1, respectively. Among the participants with eGFR above 60 ml/min/1.73m2, the renal function was grouped by 5 ml/min/1.73m2 interval. The risk of cognitive impairment started to increase from eGFR between 80 and 85 ml/min/1.73m2 (adjusted OR: 1.667, 95% CI: 1.128 - 2.463, p = 0.010). Conclusion Renal dysfunction was associated with lower global cognitive function in older adults. And the risk of cognitive impairment increased from quartile 2, especially, eGFR between 80 and 85 ml/min/1.73m2 in this population. These results suggest that mild decline of kidney function is also a risk factor of cognitive decline in the elderly.

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