title: Portosystemic Shunt Presenting as Rapidly Progressive Dementia.
abstract: Rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) is a challenging clinical problem in the elderly. It encompasses a wide range of diseases. Thorough clinical examination and a systematic approach is essential to find the cause of RPD. Early recognition of causes of RPD is important for early treatment and reversal of the pathology. We report a case of RPD due to portosystemic encephalopathy secondary to a large portosystemic shunt with preserved liver functions, in a previously healthy elderly male. He had pallidal hyperintensities on MRI brain that can be the clue to the diagnosis of portosystemic shunt and chronic liver disease in patients with RPD.
authors.forename: Wilson Benny
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aggarwall
authors.forename: Suja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurian
authors.forename: Kuruvilla Prasad
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: Surekha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viggeswarpu
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis*