Abstract
Hemodynamic mechanism for brain edema formation in patients with hypertensive encephalopathy is unclear. Potential roles of natriuretic peptides in the pathogenesis of hypertensive encephalopathy are discussed. A 32-year-old man presented with slight left hemiparesis. He was slightly confused, and his blood pressure was extremely high. Cranial plain computerized tomography scans revealed diffuse brain edema mainly in the supratentorial white matter region. Blood examination revealed that plasma concentrations of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides were significantly high. His left hemiparesis disappeared within a day, but he tended to be agitated. His altered mental status, however, resolved with control of blood pressure. Serial magnetic resonance imagings demonstrated that the magnitude of brain edema was attenuated in proportion to decline in plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides. This case suggests that significant elevation of plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides may contribute to an acute rise in blood pressure, and that these peptides potentially play an important role in development of brain edema in hypertensive encephalopathy. [Neurol Res 2002; 24: 627-630]
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
