Delayed onset of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a case of scleroderma renal crisis with maintenance hemodialysis: Case report and literature review

Consciousness disturbance in patients with chronic kidney disease: Rare but potentially treatable complication. Clinical and neuroradiological review

In patients with chronic kidney disease, particularly those in end-stage kidney failure and undergoing dialysis treatment, brain complications may arise, and their potential reversibility mainly hinges on timely diagnosis and intervention. Neurological symptoms may be non-specific ranging from slight or pronounced consciousness disturbance till coma, and imaging is the main tool to guide diagnosis and may reveal the underlying pathophysiological mechanism. Kidney impairment, causing a surge in blood pressure, increases the risk of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome and, leads to neurochemical alterations that result in uremic encephalopathy. In end-stage kidney failure patients, Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome predominantly occurs in atypical locations, often involving the bilateral basal ganglia, and exhibit larger volumes compared to patients without kidney dysfunction. Uremic encephalopathy may involve the basal ganglia, white matter, and cortical or subcortical regions; in the latter case, imaging features resemble the typical location of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome. Dialysis Disequilibrium Syndrome, Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome, and Wernicke's encephalopathy are uncommon complications associated with dialysis. Each syndrome manifests distinct imaging patterns: Dialysis Disequilibrium Syndrome shows bilateral, patchy, diffuse white matter alterations; Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome causes central pontine and less often extrapontine lesions (involving bilateral basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebral peduncles); Wernicke's encephalopathy determines symmetrical abnormalities in the thalamus, mammillary bodies, periaqueductal gray matter, midbrain tectal plate but the nature of brain edema associated with these complications remains controversial. Besides, in rare cases, overlapping imaging features may occur, and only the accurate patient's clinical history reconstruction along with laboratory examination results can lead to a better evaluation of MRI findings and underlying causes allowing prompt therapy.

Effect of Hemodiafiltration Versus Hemodialysis on Cognitive Function Among Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease: A Multicenter Study

Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) and dementia are common in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis. Their cause is multifactorial. Our study is first to compare the impact of hemodialysis (HD) and online hemodiafiltration (HDF) on patients’ cognitive outcomes.

Methods: This was a cross sectional, multicenter cohort study. Adult ESRD patients aged >18 years on regular high flux HD or online HDF were recruited in the study. Clinical, laboratory, daily activities and cognitive functions assessment were assessed in all the involved individuals.

Results: A total of 241 patients were successfully recruited into the study: 164 treated with high flux HD and 77 treated with HDF. Hypertension and diabetes were the commonest associated comorbidities. 85.9% of patients were functionally independent with no significant difference between those on HD versus HDF. 81.3% of our patients showed different degrees of CI. HDF has no superiority in the improvement of cognitive functions. Age, vitamin D level and haemoglobin (Hb) were the most independent predictors of cognitive function impairment among HD patients.

Conclusions: Cognitive function impairment is a common problem in hemodialysis and is associated with multiple risk factors. HDF showed no beneficial effect over HD. There is no superiority of online HDF versus high flux HD in improving cognitive functions.

Etiologies, Cerebral Vasomotion, and Endothelial Dysfunction in the Pathophysiology of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in Pediatric Patients

The posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome was characterized by Hinchey and colleagues in the 1990s. The condition frequently afflicts patients suffering from hematologic and solid organ malignancy and individuals undergoing transplantation. Cases are more frequently described in the adult population compared with children. In the pediatric population, malignancy, transplantation, renal disease, and hypertension represent the most common etiologies. Theories on pathogenesis have centered upon cerebrovascular dysautoregulation with increases in blood–brain barrier permeability. This generates vasogenic edema of the cerebral parenchyma and consequent neurologic deficits. The parietal and occipital lobes are affected with greatest prevalence, though frontal and temporal lobe involvement is frequent, and that of the contents of the infratentorial posterior cranial fossa are occasionally described. The clinical presentation involves a characteristic constellation of neurologic signs and symptoms, most typically inclusive of headache, visual-field disturbances, abnormalities of visual acuity, and seizures. Supportive care, withdrawal of the offending agent, antihypertensive therapy, and prophylactic anticonvulsants affect convalescence in majority of cases. The principal challenge lies in identifying the responsible agent precipitating the condition in patients with malignancy and those having undergone transplantation and thus deciding which medication among a multidrug treatment regimen to withhold, the duration of drug cessation required to effect clinical resolution, and the safety of resuming treatment with the compound. We accordingly reviewed and evaluated the literature discussing the posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in children.

Recurring posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a patient with polymyositis/systemic sclerosis overlap syndrome triggered by scleroderma renal crisis

In posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) triggered by scleroderma renal crisis (SRC), modulation and adherence in immunosuppressive therapy are key for avoiding recurrence, complications, and death. A patient with polymyositis (PM)/systemic sclerosis (SSc) overlap syndrome developed PRES triggered by SRC. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a case with PRES associated with PM/SSc overlap syndrome. This manifested as altered mental status and headaches. Vasogenic edema was seen by magnetic resonance imaging in the brainstem and cerebral white matter. Antihypertension therapy resulted in improvement in both neurological symptoms and blood pressure (BP). Reversible clinical course and radiological change were consistent with PRES diagnosis. Here, the importance of BP maintenance and removal of precipitating factors of PRES is shown.