Uremic Encephalopathy with Basal Ganglia Lesions in a Diabetic Predialysis Patient

Syndromes associated with acute bilateral lesions of the basal ganglia in diabetic uremic patients are uncommon, and usually have reversible clinical and imaging findings. Such syndromes are seen almost exclusively in patients with diabetes mellitus and renal failure. Previously reported cases have described diabetic men with uremia on dialysis.
Here, we report a case of uremic encephalopathy with lesions of the basal ganglia in a diabetic predialysis patient. A 44-year-old man with uremic encephalopathy presented with dysarthria, chorea, and right upper extremity paresthesia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed classic findings of hyper intensity in the bilateral basal ganglia. The patient had no family history of psychiatric or neurological disease. Laboratory findings revealed elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and glucose. Haloperidol and ropinirole therapy was continued, resulting in significant improvement without dialysis. The patient recovered from his episode without apparent sequelae.