Diabetic uremic syndrome studied with cerebral MR spectroscopy and CT perfusion

Extrapyramidal syndromes of chronic kidney disease and dialysis (diabetic uremic syndrome) with reversible parkinsonism and lentiform fork sign: A case report and literature review including metformin-induced encephalopathy

Diabetic uremic syndrome has been rarely reported in patients on maintenance dialysis for diabetic nephropathy who present subacutely with neurological symptoms and bilateral basal ganglia lesions. There are also a few reports on metformin-induced encephalopathy, which is clinically similar to diabetic uremic syndrome. Because some patients with each of these diseases also have metabolic acidosis, it is speculated that these two diseases may have the same pathology. Recently, the term "extrapyramidal syndromes of chronic kidney disease and dialysis" (EPS-CKDD), with associated diagnostic criteria, has been proposed to describe these conditions, and metformin use is considered a risk factor for developing these syndromes. We report a case of a patient on maintenance hemodialysis for diabetic nephropathy who was taking metformin and developed subacute parkinsonism and bilateral basal ganglia lesions that rapidly improved after discontinuation of metformin with continued maintenance hemodialysis. We should ascertain whether patients with EPS-CKDD are taking metformin because it may be inappropriately prescribed for end-stage renal disease. If metformin has been prescribed, it should be discontinued immediately; its discontinuation may lead to rapid symptom recovery and improved prognosis.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome with spinal cord involvement (PRES-SCI) as a rare complication of severe diabetic ketoacidosis: a case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

In addition to diffuse brain oedema, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can lead to ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, extrapontine myelinolysis, and sinovenous thrombosis. However, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and spinal cord oedema are rarely reported in patients with DKA.

METHODS

We present a case of a 17-year-old-girl who developed headache, blurred vision, and paraplegia after her DKA was controlled. Sequential magnetic resonance (MR) scans of the brain and spinal cord were performed.

RESULTS

Brain MR showed large patchy lesions in the bilateral white matter of the parieto-occipital lobes, which had high T2 signal intensity and low T1 signal intensity. MR scanning of the spinal cord showed longitudinal confluent central spinal cord T2 hyperintensity spanning seven thoracic spinal segments. With symptomatic treatment, the patient's headache and vision disturbance subsided within 1 week. Subsequent MR scans demonstrated that the lesion in the spinal cord had decreased significantly in 10 days, and the large patchy lesions in the brain disappeared completely in 2 months. Her paraplegia improved gradually without obvious sequela 3 months later. The evolution of the disease and radiological findings supported the diagnosis of PRES with spinal cord involvement.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report describing PRES with spinal cord involvement as a complication of DKA. PRES is a rare complication that should be considered along with other neurological complications of DKA when focal deficits appear.