Hypoglycemia encephalopathy

Metabolic/toxic encephalopathy hypoglycemia, hepatic failure, alcohol intoxication... 

Prompt referral for liver transplantation is the therapy of choice for most patients with fulminant hepatic failure. Transplantation should be considered in all cases in which the patient demonstrates progressive clinical deterioration (encephalopathy, hypoglycemia, metabolic acidosis, renal failure, and coagulation defects)." Patients should be transferred at the first sign of altered mental status, because these patients often worsen very rapidly. One-year smvival rates with liver transplantation for fulminant hepatitis are 50% to 80% (as compared to <20% with medical management alone)."... 

Hepatic encephalopathy Hyperbilirubinemia Hypocalcemia Hypercalcemia Hyperparathyroidism Hypoparathyroidism Thiamine deficiency (Wernicke s) encephalopathy Diabetic ketoacidosis Nonketotic hyperosmolar coma Phosphate depletion Hypoglycemia Hypoxemia Hypercapnia... 

Hypersensitivity Fever, skin eruptions of various types, including exfoliative dermatitis, infectious mononucleosis-like, or lymphoma-like syndrome, leukopenia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, Coombs positive hemolytic anemia, jaundice, hepatitis, pericarditis, hypoglycemia, optic neuritis, encephalopathy, Leoffler s syndrome, vasculitis, and a reduction in prothrombin. 

Frequent attacks of hypoglycemia can result in encephalopathy, and after withdrawal of the hypoglycemic drug cerebral injury can persist. It is not exceptional for prolonged hypoglycemic coma to end fatally (43,44). In 494 cases of severe hypoglycemia, 10% of the patients died and 9% had permanent sequelae (45). 

It is not surprising that infant L. suffered diffuse encephalopathy (brain disorder), a cerebral infarction, and seizures during the neonatal period (Yager, 2002). Both asphyxia and hypoglycemia are injurious to the brain. The treatment for seizures consists of providing normal metabolic substrates (e.g., glucose) and appropriate anticonvulsant therapy (phenobarbital), as was done in the present case. The long-term treatment for the child s developmental disabilities is complex and involves the skills of many members of the health care team. 

Increased sensitivity to drugs is also encountered in liver disease. The use of anticoagulants increases the risk of bleeding due to the reduced absorption of vitamin K or decreased production of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. There is an enhanced risk for respiratory depression and hepatic encephalopathy due to morphine or barbiturates in patients with severe liver disease. Vigorous use of diuretics can precipitate hepatic coma due to potassium loss in liver disease. There is an increased risk of hypoglycemia with... 

Metabolic disorders such as hypoglycemia, adrenal disease, vitamin deficiencies, electrolyte imbalances Organ diseases such as hepatic encephalopathy Pernicious anemia... 

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