Cerebral Accidents in Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Different Complications and Different Evolutions

Correlation between Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Cerebral Edema in Children with Severe Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a common onset modality of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), can lead, in rare instances, to the development of cerebral edema, which is the leading cause of mortality in T1DM. Aside from the identification of several demographic and clinical risk factors for cerebral edema, attention has also been drawn to the possible link between systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation. This single-center retrospective study of 98 children with severe DKA aimed to investigate the possible relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio NLR) levels and the presence of cerebral edema. Patients were classified into three groups: alert (n = 28), subclinical cerebral edema (n = 59), and overt cerebral edema (n = 11). Lower blood pH and elevated NLR and blood urea were correlated with the presence of cerebral edema (p < 0.001). After a multivariable risk adjustment for possible confounding factors, such as age, pH, corrected sodium, and BUN, the NLR remained positively associated with cerebral edema (p = 0.045). As such, NLR may be an additional instrument to help practitioners target patients with a higher risk of severe cerebral edema. These patients would benefit from more rigorous neurologic surveillance, enabling the prompt identification of early signs of cerebral edema.

Reversible global hypoperfusion in an adult patient with a mixed diabetic ketoacidosis/hyperglycemic hyperosmolar coma: A case report

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a severe complication of diabetes mellitus. We report a case of global hypoperfusion in an elderly patient on CT, with complete resolution shown on early MRI follow‐up. Metabolic causes have always to be included in the differential diagnosis of diffuse hypoperfusion in the appropriate clinical setting.

Ischaemic Haemorrhagic Stroke in a Child with New Onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Cerebral oedema is the most common neurological complication of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). However, ischaemic and haemorrhagic brain injury has been reported infrequently. A 10-year old girl who was previously well presented with severe DKA. She was tachycardic with poor peripheral perfusion but normotensive. However, two fast boluses totalling 40 ml/kg normal saline were given. She was transferred to another hospital where she was intubated due to drowsiness. Rehydration fluid (maintenance and 48-hour correction for 7.5% dehydration) was started followed by insulin infusion. She was extubated within 24 hours of admission. Her ketosis resolved soon after and subcutaneous insulin was started. However, about 48 hours after admission, her Glasgow Coma Scale score dropped to 11/15 (E4M5V2) with expressive aphasia and upper motor neuron signs. One dose of mannitol was given. Her symptoms improved gradually and at 26-month follow-up she had a near-complete recovery with only minimal left lower limb weakness. Serial magnetic resonance imaging brain scans showed vascular ischaemic injury at the frontal-parietal watershed regions with haemorrhagic transformation. This case reiterates the importance of monitoring the neurological status of patient’s with DKA closely for possible neurological complications including an ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome with spinal cord involvement (PRES-SCI) as a rare complication of severe diabetic ketoacidosis: a case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

In addition to diffuse brain oedema, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can lead to ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, extrapontine myelinolysis, and sinovenous thrombosis. However, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and spinal cord oedema are rarely reported in patients with DKA.

METHODS

We present a case of a 17-year-old-girl who developed headache, blurred vision, and paraplegia after her DKA was controlled. Sequential magnetic resonance (MR) scans of the brain and spinal cord were performed.

RESULTS

Brain MR showed large patchy lesions in the bilateral white matter of the parieto-occipital lobes, which had high T2 signal intensity and low T1 signal intensity. MR scanning of the spinal cord showed longitudinal confluent central spinal cord T2 hyperintensity spanning seven thoracic spinal segments. With symptomatic treatment, the patient's headache and vision disturbance subsided within 1 week. Subsequent MR scans demonstrated that the lesion in the spinal cord had decreased significantly in 10 days, and the large patchy lesions in the brain disappeared completely in 2 months. Her paraplegia improved gradually without obvious sequela 3 months later. The evolution of the disease and radiological findings supported the diagnosis of PRES with spinal cord involvement.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report describing PRES with spinal cord involvement as a complication of DKA. PRES is a rare complication that should be considered along with other neurological complications of DKA when focal deficits appear.