title: Acute uraemic encephalopathy in tropical countries.
abstract: This is a prospective study on 24 patients with chronic renal failure. Thirteen of them had evidence of acute uraemic encephalopathy. Of those 9 patients were found to have dilutional hyponatraemia, two patients severe salt and water depletion and one patient septicaemia. Hyponatraemia was associated with pulmonary oedema in 3 patients. Correction of salt and water disturbances and treatment of heart failure improved cerebral functions in 10 (77%) patients. It is therefore concluded that dilutional hyponatraemia probably leading to cerebral oedema is a reversibe major factor in the development of acute uraemic encephalopathy. This, if left uncorrected, may prove fatal especially in tropical countries.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000209:etiology; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium