scholarly journals Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome: A Case of Hypercalcemia

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 338
Author(s):  
Ana Ponciano ◽  
Vera Vieira ◽  
José Leite ◽  
Célio Fernandes

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is an encephalopathy that can be clinically characterized by headache, altered mental status and/or seizures. Neuroimaging demonstrates usually reversible bilateral subcortical vasogenic occipital-parietal edema. Exact pathophysiology remains unclear but is commonly associated with hypertension, renal failure, sepsis and use of immunosuppressive therapy. Its development in the setting of severe hypercalcemia is extremely rare. The authors report a case of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a normotensive patient with severe hypercalcemia as the only identifiable cause.


Author(s):  
Jade Willey ◽  
Steven J. Baumrucker

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is associated with seizures, visual disturbances, headache, and altered mental status. Given its presentation, the diagnosis can be mistaken for other severe conditions. Palliative medicine consultants should be aware of PRES and be prepared to counsel families on the treatment and prognosis of this syndrome.



2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 215013271986953 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Strother ◽  
Hailon Wong ◽  
Nathaniel E. Miller

An elderly woman was admitted to the Family Medicine inpatient service for altered mental status after being brought to the emergency room by a concerned neighbor, who had come across the patient speaking incoherently. Initial evaluation was notable for elevated blood pressures, but extensive lab testing and head computed tomographic imaging were within normal limits. However, subsequent magnetic resonance imaging showed white matter changes consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), a neurologic syndrome characterized by headache, altered mental status, loss of vision, and seizures as well as radiographic findings of posterior cerebral white matter edema. Multiple etiologies of PRES have been described and include hypertensive encephalopathy, immunosuppressant medications, and eclampsia. This case describes an episode of PRES secondary to hypertensive encephalopathy brought about by an inappropriate dose of a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor. The patient had significant improvement in symptoms with removal of the offending agent and control of her blood pressure. While PRES generally has a good prognosis, prompt recognition, and management are important in preventing significant disease morbidity and mortality.



2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Carlos Porcello Marrone ◽  
Bianca Fontana Marrone ◽  
Tharick Ali Pascoal ◽  
Lucas Porcello Schilling ◽  
Ricardo Bernardi Soder ◽  
...  

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinicoradiologic entity characterized by headaches, altered mental status, seizures, visual loss, and characteristic imaging pattern in brain MRI. The cause of PRES is not yet understood. We report a case of a 27-year-old woman that developed PRES after the use of FOLFOX 5 (oxaliplatin/5-Fluoracil/Leucovorin) chemotherapy for a colorectal cancer.



2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saadiya Javed Khan ◽  
Arjumand Ali Arshad ◽  
Mohammad Bilal Fayyaz ◽  
Islah ud din Mirza

Purpose Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is associated with a range of medical conditions and medications. In this retrospective analysis, we present 19 pediatric patients with PRES who had undergone chemotherapy. Methods We identified four female and 15 male patients diagnosed with PRES on the basis of clinical and radiologic features. Patient charts were reviewed from January 2013 to June 2016 after authorization from the institutional review board. Results The average age of patients with PRES was 7 years. Primary diagnoses were non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 9), acute pre–B-cell leukemia (n = 5), relapsed pre–B-cell leukemia (n = 2), Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 2), and Ewing sarcoma (n = 1). PRES occurred during induction chemotherapy in 12 patients. Sixteen patients had hypertension when they developed PRES. Most of these patients (n = 13) were receiving corticosteroids on diagnosis of PRES. Common clinical features were hypertension, seizures, and altered mental status. With the exclusion of three patients, all others required antiepileptic therapy. Ten of these patients underwent additional magnetic resonance imaging. Ten patients are still alive. Conclusion In patients who presented to our center with signs and symptoms of hypertension, seizures, visual loss, or altered mental status, PRES was mostly seen in those who were undergoing systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy. Approximately 40% of the patients had reversal of clinical and radiologic findings. Antiepileptic medications were discontinued after being seizure free for approximately 6 months.



2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 231-234
Author(s):  
Ishwor Sharma ◽  
Prakash Banjade ◽  
Sasikumar Atthipalayam Chellamuthu ◽  
Faisal Saeed ◽  
Prajut Dallakoti

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a condition presenting with non-specific symptoms like nausea, vomiting and headache along with neurological manifestations like altered mental status, seizure, visual impairment and even coma. These symptoms are coupled with characteristic radiological findings of vasogenic edema in the bilateral parieto-occipital lobe which is usually reversible. We present here, a young 30 years old male, with dizziness, vomiting, generalized weakness, altered mental status with cortical blindness and focal and generalized tonic-clonic seizures in the background of first presentation of type 2 diabetes mellitus with ketonuria. Characteristic findings in Magnetic Resonance Imaging and reversal of the symptoms helped to reach the diagnosis of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in our patient. The patient was discharged in stable condition after reversal of the symptoms and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.



2018 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Matthew Mandell ◽  
Jennifer Velasco ◽  
Armand Krikorian ◽  
Anupama Ananth ◽  
Joumana Chaiban ◽  
...  


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. e349-e351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Vora ◽  
Sadia Ali

Objective: Calcium sulfate beads (CSBs) are biocompatible hydrophilic crystals that are used to deliver local antibiotics in periprosthetic joint infections. Hypercalcemia after placement of CSBs is uncommon and poorly understood. Methods: We present the case of a woman who presented with symptomatic hypercalcemia after placement of antibiotic-eluting CSBs. Results: A 58-year-old, Caucasian woman presented with altered mental status, respiratory failure, and septic shock 2 days after placement of antibiotic-eluting CSBs for a left prosthetic hip infection. Laboratory analysis revealed severe hypercalcemia at presentation. She had no known history of fractures, kidney stones, parathyroid, or calcium disorders. She was not on any medications that could induce hypercalcemia. She was treated with aggressive intravenous hydration and 8 doses of calcitonin. Due to impaired renal function, bisphosphonate was contraindicated. She subsequently became anuric with worsening renal failure and volume overload and the decision was made to initiate dialysis. She received 8 days of continuous renal replacement therapy followed by 2 sessions of hemodialysis which improved her serum calcium levels, mental status, and renal failure with no long-term complications. Conclusion: Hypercalcemia secondary to the placement of antibiotic-eluting CSBs is rare. Larger volumes of CSBs may contribute to hypercalcemia. In some cases, hypercalcemia can be severe and symptomatic as in the case of our patient. Serum calcium levels should be monitored frequently after placement of CSBs and managed as appropriate.



Author(s):  
E Mohammed ◽  
A Ramrattan ◽  
D Santoriello

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinicoradiological diagnosis defined as new onset seizures, headaches, impaired vision and consciousness. PRES is typically associated with hypertensive emergencies and pre-eclampsia but its association with autoimmune diseases is largely multifactorial with the combination of ongoing immunologic processes, sepsis and cytotoxic agents contributing to patient’s presentation. Cyclophosphamide induced PRES is rare and has been reported in cases of patients with renal failure and active autoimmune processes.



2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 27-34
Author(s):  
Anna Mirela Stroie ◽  
Mircea Nicolae Penescu

AbstractPosterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a rare manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus, characterized by altered mental status, headache, convulsions, visual field impairment and posterior and reversible alterations on imaging scans(1,2). The clinical picture develops over a few hours, presenting with rapidly progressive neurological symptoms(3). It was first described in 1996. It is more frequent in patients with acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease, thus in lupus patients with kidney disorders. It is associated with hypertension, other autoimmune diseases beside lupus, immunosuppressive therapies, especially antibody-based immunosuppressive therapy, and organ transplantation. It is clinically reversible within one week and imaging changes resolve within 2-4 weeks. It is treatable and has a good prognosis. We present the case of a young woman of 27 years, diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed convulsive seizures, headache, visual impairment, being under immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine. The kidney biopsy revealed class IV lupus nephritis and partial remission of the nephrotic syndrome. The other manifestations of SLE in this patient were cutaneous, immunological, articular and haematological. The patient had a good short, medium and long-term prognosis at 30 days and also at 6 months.



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