Altered mental status due to metabolic or endocrine disorders.
The differential diagnoses for mental status alteration is broad. Endocrine or metabolic causes for emergency department patients who present with lethargy, anxiety, psychosis, and seizures should be considered. Using the complaint-based approach, this article discusses some of the often less obvious etiologies for these presentations related to endocrine and metabolic disease states.
Synergy Medical Education Alliance, 1000 Houghton Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48602, USA. abazakis@pol.net
Andrew M
AM
Bazakis
Catherine
C
Kunzler
D003128:Coma / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D003693:Delirium / Q000209:etiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology*