Acute uraemic encephalopathy in tropical countries

This is a prospective study on 24 patients with chronic renal failure. Thirteen of them had evidence of acute uraemic encephalopathy. Of those 9 patients were found to have dilutional hyponatraemia, two patients severe salt and water depletion and one patient septicaemia. Hyponatraemia was associated with pulmonary oedema in 3 patients. Correction of salt and water disturbances and treatment of heart failure improved cerebral functions in 10 (77%) patients. It is therefore concluded that dilutional hyponatraemia probably leading to cerebral oedema is a reversibe major factor in the development of acute uraemic encephalopathy. This, if left uncorrected, may prove fatal especially in tropical countries.