Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: a report of a case with atypical features

Anaesthesia
J N Pratap, J F Down

Abstract

We report a case of a young woman presenting with profound depression of consciousness and intra-uterine death in the late stages of an unbooked pregnancy. She proceeded to develop features of cardiovascular, renal, hepatic and haematological failures. The patient was challenging to manage in view of uncertainty regarding the underlying cause, and required multidisciplinary consultation. A diagnosis was subsequently made of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in the context of pre-eclampsia. We review the typical presentation and wide-ranging associations of this recently described clinico-neuroradiological syndrome, and look at how appropriate management may lead to rapid resolution of its often life-threatening features. We highlight the importance to anaesthetists and critical care physicians of recognising even atypical cases such as this one in view of key differences in management from similarly presenting conditions.

References

Feb 22, 1996·The New England Journal of Medicine·J HincheyL R Caplan
Jun 27, 1996·The New England Journal of Medicine·R B Schwartz
Apr 20, 1999·Pediatric Neurology·N L AntunesE Lis
Aug 2, 2001·Best Practice & Research. Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology·P Young, R Johanson
Jun 26, 2002·Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry·S C Keswani, R Wityk
Mar 26, 2003·Clinical Nephrology·B BennettA Quan
Feb 12, 2005·Internal Medicine Journal·V L StottT J Anderson
Oct 11, 2005·Critical Care Medicine·Dilip R Karnad, Kalpalatha K Guntupalli
Aug 10, 2006·Neurological Sciences : Official Journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology·M C NarboneE Ferlazzo

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 15, 2011·Neurological Sciences : Official Journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology·Paolo AridonGiovanni Savettieri
Dec 17, 2014·Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology·S PomaG A Iotti
May 30, 2020·Postgraduate Medical Journal·Anant Parasher, Rajat Jhamb

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.