A case of acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy mimicking brain death

Libonati, Laura; Fiorini, I.; Cambieri, Chiara; Ceccanti, Marco; Inghilleri, Maurizio

doi:10.1007/s10072-021-05051-2

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Infectious, autoimmune, and toxic causes are the most prevalently seen causes of this condition, which can be fatal in some cases. Therefore, the reason should be identified, and an appropriate diagnosis should be initiated as soon as possible 5 . One of the uncommon causes of neuromuscular paralysis is an abnormal serum potassium level 6 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the reason should be identified, and an appropriate diagnosis should be initiated as soon as possible. 5 One of the uncommon causes of neuromuscular paralysis is an abnormal serum potassium level. 6 Potassium is an essential cation in the human body that regulates metabolic cell functions and muscle contractures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hypokalemic paralysis following intramuscular betamethasone injection: A case report and review of literature

Ebrahimi,

Taheri,

Mousavinejad

et al. 2024

Clinical Case Reports

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Key Clinical MessageAcute neuromuscular paralysis is a relatively common condition in emergency rooms (ERs). They can be caused by several reasons, including adverse drug reactions. Betamethasone is a glucocorticoid commonly used for various conditions, such as allergic conditions. One of the rare but known side effects of glucocorticoids is hypokalemia. Rare cases of hypokalemia following high‐ and low‐dose glucocorticoid injections have been reported. This study presents the history of a young, healthy male without significant past medical history who presented with an inability to stand and walk due to four‐limb paralysis (more prominent in the lower limbs) following an intramuscular injection of a 4 mg betamethasone, which was prescribed for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. The patient was stabilized with an intravascular injection of potassium chloride diluted in 1000 mL of normal saline and monitored for 24 h, ruling out any other endocrine condition. Hypokalemia and its severe form are defined as the serum level of lower than 3.5 and 2.5 mEq/Lit, respectively. One of the etiologies of drug‐induced hypokalemic paralysis is systemic glucocorticoid administration. In severe cases, it can cause quadriplegia and other neuromuscular, respiratory, and cardiac complications. Therefore, it is an urgent condition that should be managed carefully. Pregnant women who are receiving these medications are a specific group at risk of hypokalemic paralysis. There are several safer treatments for seasonal allergic rhinitis compared to systemic glucocorticoids, which should be considered by physicians. Moreover, paralysis in patients receiving these medications should be approached attentively since it might be caused by hypokalemia, which can be life threatening if not treated. It is advisable that the blood level of electrolytes, especially potassium, be checked for patients who present with paralysis or weakness after glucocorticoid injections.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hypokalemic paralysis following intramuscular betamethasone injection: A case report and review of literature

Ebrahimi,

Taheri,

Mousavinejad

et al. 2024

Clinical Case Reports

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“…No patients experiencing brain death have returned back to life ( Wijdicks et al, 2011 ; Wahlster et al, 2015 ; Varelas et al, 2021 ). Studies examining brain death mimics indicate decreased arousal but do not examine perception or memory formation ( Ostermann et al, 2000 ; Vargas et al, 2000 ; John et al, 2008 ; Peter et al, 2008 ; Bernard et al, 2010 ; Sullivan et al, 2012 ; Ravikumar et al, 2016 ; Stranges et al, 2018 ; Libonati et al, 2021 ; Pearson et al, 2021 ). One study on Guillain-Barre mimicking brain death determined that EEG showed an alpha rhythm and normal evoked potentials ( Vargas et al, 2000 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What happens in the brain when we die? Deciphering the neurophysiology of the final moments in life

Shlobin

Aru

Vicente

et al. 2023

Front. Aging Neurosci.

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When do we die and what happens in the brain when we die? The mystery around these questions has engaged mankind for centuries. Despite the challenges to obtain recordings of the dying brain, recent studies have contributed to better understand the processes occurring during the last moments of life. In this review, we summarize the literature on neurophysiological changes around the time of death. Perhaps the only subjective description of death stems from survivors of near-death experiences (NDEs). Hallmarks of NDEs include memory recall, out-of-body experiences, dreaming, and meditative states. We survey the evidence investigating neurophysiological changes of these experiences in healthy subjects and attempt to incorporate this knowledge into the existing literature investigating the dying brain to provide valuations for the neurophysiological footprint and timeline of death. We aim to identify reasons explaining the variations of data between studies investigating this field and provide suggestions to standardize research and reduce data variability.

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A case of acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy mimicking brain death

Cited by 2 publications

References 22 publications

Hypokalemic paralysis following intramuscular betamethasone injection: A case report and review of literature

Hypokalemic paralysis following intramuscular betamethasone injection: A case report and review of literature

What happens in the brain when we die? Deciphering the neurophysiology of the final moments in life

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