Acute encephalopathies

Abstract

In daily hospital activity a frequent observation is that of patients in conditions of acute global suffering of the central nervous system due to a primary cause or symptomatic of other diseases. This condition shows an alteration of the state of consciousness, which involves three possible semeiologic manifestations: delirium (acute confusional state), acute confusional state associated with psychomotor underactivity and coma. The possible causes of an acute encephalopathy (AE) are: metabolic, iatrogenic and toxic, infective, primary neurologic, surgery-related and others. Diagnostic-therapeutic routes to be followed by emergency room doctors and neurologists dealing with AE are defined.

Hypercalcemic Encephalopathy as an Initial Presentation of Multiple Myeloma

“…Altered mental status (AMS) is a vague term that includes various disorders of mental functioning ranges from slight confusion to coma [6]. In elderly patients, altered mental status is the primary cause of admission in the emergency department.…”

Hypercalcemic encephalopathy due to milk alkali syndrome and injection teriparatide

“…[1] Hypercalcemia is rare among these patients. Depending on the severity and rate of development of hypercalcemia, patient can present with mild drowsiness to coma.…”

“…In more than 90% of cases, hyperparathyroidism is the cause; however, in an emergency setting, malignancy related hypercalcemia is the commonest cause. [1] Milk alkali syndrome (MAS) can cause acute, subacute or chronic hypercalcemia, which has been reported as early as in 1923, though the term MAS was coined in 1949. [2] Though it became uncommon after some time, recently it has witnessed resurgence after increased general awareness about osteoporosis and overuse of calcium carbonate and vitamin D.[2] Injection teriparatide is known to cause transient hypercalcemia up to 6 hours of its administration;[3] severe hypercalcemia causing encephalopathy is not known.…”

Comparação Quantitativa Do Eletroencefalograma (Eeg) Em Estado De Coma Com Diferentes Desfechos Clínicos

“…Existem algumas etiologias para encefalopatias agudas (EA) incluindo metabólicas, tóxicas, infecciosas, neurológicas primárias, cirúrgicas e outras. O principal aspecto clínico das EAs é um estado alterado de consciência que pode variar de vigília ou consciência minimamente reduzida para coma [4]. …”