An Unusual Case of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome

A 21-year-old pregnant female with no significant past medical history presented with acute onset headache and nausea as well as tonic-clonic seizures, then rapidly decompensated into a coma with complete absence of brainstem reflexes. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with hemolysis, elevated li...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inClinical practice and cases in emergency medicine Vol. 1; no. 3; pp. 208 - 211
Main Authors Zemple, Robert P, Pelleg, Tomer, Cossio, Moises R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States University of California Irvine, Department of Emergency Medicine publishing Western Journal of Emergency Medicine 01.08.2017
eScholarship Publishing, University of California
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Case Report
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Summary:A 21-year-old pregnant female with no significant past medical history presented with acute onset headache and nausea as well as tonic-clonic seizures, then rapidly decompensated into a coma with complete absence of brainstem reflexes. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP syndrome) and subsequent posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) with brainstem involvement. Emergent delivery and blood pressure control resulted in rapid and complete neurologic recovery.
ISSN:2474-252X
2474-252X
DOI:10.5811/cpcem.2017.3.30999