title: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in an 87-year-old woman with Escherichia coli bloodstream infection.
abstract: We present the case of an 87-year-old woman with history of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, ischemic heart diseases, urinary tract infections, and cerebrovascular disease who experienced a transient clinical picture characterized by confusion, lethargy, and acute renal dysfunction in the course of urinary tract infection with Escherichia coli bacteremia. Escherichia coli bloodstream infection was associated with brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patterns in which the lesion distribution was consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Diagnosis of PRES was confirmed by demonstration of vasogenic edema on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps and near-complete resolution of clinical manifestations at discharge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital, St. Anna, Ferrara 44100, Italy. f.fabbian@ospfe.it
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fabbian
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fallica
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capone
authors.forename: Vincenza Cinzia
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Monetti
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fratti
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fainardi
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020343:Hypertensive Encephalopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D053609:Lethargy / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications