Perioperative posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in 2 pediatric neurosurgery patients with brainstem ependymoma

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie G. Hayden Gephart ◽  
Bonnie P. Taft ◽  
Anne-Katrin Giese ◽  
Raphael Guzman ◽  
Michael S. B. Edwards

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) has been described in pediatric neurooncology patients, although it has not been documented perioperatively in pediatric neurosurgery patients not actively receiving chemotherapy. Recently at the authors' facility, 2 cases of PRES were diagnosed perioperatively in children with brainstem ependymoma. Both patients had presented with hypertension, altered mental status, and seizures and demonstrated MR imaging features consistent with PRES. The patients were treated with antiseizure and antihypertension medications, leading to improvement in both clinical symptoms and neuroimaging findings. These cases are the first to document PRES in perioperative pediatric neurosurgery patients not actively receiving chemotherapy. Both patients had ependymoma involving the brainstem, which may have led to intra- and perioperative hemodynamic instability (including hypertension) and predisposed them to this syndrome. An awareness of PRES in similar scenarios will aid in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric neurosurgery patients with this syndrome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Terence Tumenta ◽  
Samuel Adeyemo ◽  
Oluwatoyin Oladeji ◽  
Oluwole Jegede ◽  
Bordes Laurent ◽  
...  

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) is a characteristic clinical radiographic syndrome with diffuse structural alteration of cerebral white matter secondary to myelin damage with diverse and multifactorial etiologies. It can present with acutely altered mentation, somnolence or occasionally stupor, vision impairment, seizures, and sudden or chronic headaches that are not focal. The pathophysiology remains unclear, but mechanisms involving endothelial injury and dysregulation of cerebral autoregulation have been purported. We report the case of a 36-year-old male with a history of heroin use disorder, who was admitted to our hospital for opioid withdrawal. CT head without contrast and MRI with and without gadolinium showed significant white matter disease in both cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum. He was diagnosed with Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome secondary to heroin use and managed on the medical floor in collaboration with the neurology team. His clinical symptoms improved and he was discharged after six weeks. To our knowledge, this case did not present with the risk factors for PRES reported in the literature. For patients with heroin use disorder who present with an altered mental status, PRES should be highly suspected. The diagnosis and management require collaboration between psychiatry and neurology.



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.



BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatme Seval Ismail ◽  
Johannes van de Nes ◽  
Ilka Kleffner

Abstract Background Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is clinical-neuroradiologically defined and potentially reversible, so there are limited data about histopathological findings. We aimed to describe the clinical and paraclinical features of patients with PRES with regard to its reversibility. Methods This retrospective case series encompasses 15 PRES cases out of 1300 evaluated patients from a single German center between January 1, 2010, and June 15, 2020. PRES was established according to the diagnostic criteria as proposed by the Berlin PRES Study 2012. One of the cases studied was subject to brain autopsy. Results From the 15 patients studied (median age 53 years, range 17–73; 11 female), 67 % presented with epileptic seizures, 40 % suffered from encephalopathy with reduced consciousness and 53 % developed delirium, while 47 % had headache and visual disturbances. Subcortical brain MRI abnormalities related to PRES were observed in all patients. One patient developed spinal ischemia and another Guillain-Barré syndrome in addition to PRES. Hypertensive blood pressure was the main underlying/trigger condition in all patients. Clinical symptoms and MRI changes were not reversible in 42 %, even progressive in 3 out of these 5 patients. Median time from symptom onset to diagnosis in these non-reversible cases was 7 days (range 0–13), while the median delay in diagnosis in the reversible group was 1 day (range 0–3). Cerebellar/brain stem involvement and status epilepticus were more frequently in patients with non-reversible disease course. Mortality due to PRES occurred in 13 % of these patients. Neuropathological examination of the brain of a 57-year-old female patient revealed major leukencephalopathic changes, fibrinoid necrosis of endothelial cells and fresh petechial hemorrhages in accordance with PRES. Conclusions Our case series demonstrates that PRES was not reversible in 42 % of the studied patients. Delay in diagnosis seems to contribute to limited reversibility and poor outcome.



2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 1537
Author(s):  
Sriramchandra Rahul Pulavarty ◽  
Nagabhushana Midathala

Background: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a neurological disorder which can present with sudden onset headache, visual disturbances, seizures and altered sensorium which is potentially reversible with early detection and treatment of the precipitating factor. The range of presentations is being constantly widened and this endeavour is a step towards understanding the wide array of presentation and primary etiology.Methods: This is a prospective observational study of 25 patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital with symptoms and imaging features suggestive of PRES. Thorough clinical examination and MRI brain were performed in all patients.Results: Out of the 25 patients, 18 (72%) were females and 7 (28%) were males. Most common symptom was headache (84%) followed by seizures (56%), nausea (40%), visual blurring (36%) and altered sensorium (20%). In patients presenting with seizure, 28.57% had recurrent seizures.The most common precipitating cause was postpartum state without hypertension (40%) followed by accelerated hypertension (28%), eclampsia (16%), chronic kidney disease (12%) and one patient of chronic severe anaemia had PRES following blood transfusion (4%). Most of the patients improved with no residual neurological deficit.Conclusions: Good neurological outcomes can be achieved by early diagnosis and appropriate imaging in patients with PRES. In pregnant and postpartum patients, PRES should be always considered even with normal blood pressure. Rapid correction of chronic severe anaemia is a rare but preventable cause of PRES.



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 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-343
Author(s):  
Giordano Rafael Tronco Alves ◽  
Isadora Cristina Olesiak Cordenonsi ◽  
Régis Vinícius de Andrade Silva ◽  
Carlos Jesus Pereira Haygert

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) comprises a unique pattern of brain vasogenic edema that is seen in the setting of a neurotoxic status. Besides many etiologies have been already associated with PRES development, such as chronic renal disease, use of chemotherapy agents and inflammatory conditions, the imaging features are very suggestive and helpful for an appropriate diagnosis. We report here a case of PRES secondary to post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN), which evolved successfully after clinical management. An 11-year-old boy was admitted with a typical history and findings of PSGN, associated with sensory alterations, headache and recent tonic-clonic seizure. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the head has revealed bilateral and symmetric hypodense areas, remarkably located at posterior cerebral regions, indicating PRES. Patient received support therapy with diuretics, and antibiotics prescription after discharge. At ambulatory follow-ups, the patient remains asymptomatic, with complete clinical and radiological improvement.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 12 No. 03 July ’13 Page 341-343 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v12i3.13323





2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kefeng Jia ◽  
Weili Yin ◽  
Fang Wang ◽  
Zhongsong Gao ◽  
Cheng Sun ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a very rare complication secondary to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Only two patients with liver metastasis have been reported. We report for the first time two cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients occurred PRES secondary toTACE. Case presentation The two patients with HCC developed headache, epilepsy, expressive aphasia, visual impairment and loss of consciousness, 11 and 3 h after conventional TACE (c-TACE) surgery. One patient experienced raised blood pressure during and after TACE, accompanied by a significant elevated creatinine. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the two patients showed multiple abnormal signals in the brain, mainly located in the white matter region. Combined with the clinical symptoms and MRI findings, PRES was diagnosed. Their symptoms and MRI changes improved significantly in the next two weeks. Conclusion The PRES in this report is chemoembolization-associated syndrome, which might be related to the use of chemotherapy agents during TACE. And if neurological symptoms occur after TACE, patients should be closely monitored to exclude PRES.



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