Hyponatremic Encephalopathy after Excessive Water Ingestion Prior to Pelvic Ultrasound: Neuroimaging Findings


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Yalcin-Cakmakli G., Oguz K. K., Shorbagi A., Bas D. F., Ergan-Arsava B., Kunt M. M., ...More

INTERNAL MEDICINE, vol.49, no.16, pp.1807-1811, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 49 Issue: 16
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Doi Number: 10.2169/internalmedicine.49.3395
  • Journal Name: INTERNAL MEDICINE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1807-1811
  • Keywords: water intoxication, acute hyponatremia, seizure, encephalopathy, serum inappropriate ADH syndrome, magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, BRAIN EDEMA, SYMPTOMATIC HYPONATREMIA, INTOXICATION, ESCITALOPRAM, PATIENT
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

We report two patients with acute hyponatremic encephalopathy which developed after massive water ingestion for pelvic ultrasound and emphasize the findings of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Both subjects had completely recovered within 24 hours following fluid restriction and salt replacement. MR imaging revealed cortical sulcal narrowing, restricted diffusion and sulcal T2 hyperintensity along with diffuse pial enhancement suggesting diffuse cerebral cortical cytotoxic edema and blood-brain barrier breakdown. In addition to the first illustration of multimodality MR imaging features of water-intoxication, these two cases also highlight the need for standardized practice on the quantity of water intake recommended to distend the bladder for pelvic ultrasound, especially in patients at risk for serum inappropriate ADH syndrome-related hyponatremia.