Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome Caused by Steroid Therapy in a Patient with Lupus Nephritis

A 51-yr-old female was referred to our outpatient clinic for the evaluation of generalized edema. She had been diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). She had taken no medicine. Except for the ITP, she had no history of systemic disease. She was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus. Immunosuppressions consisting of high-dose steroid were started. When preparing the patient for discharge, a generalized myoclonic seizure occurred at the 47th day of admission. At that time, the laboratory and neurology studies showed hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome. Brain MRI and EEG showed brain atrophy without other lesion. The seizure stopped after the blood sugar and serum osmolarity declined below the upper normal limit. The patient became asymptomatic and she was discharged 10 weeks after admission under maintenance therapy with prednisolone, insulin glargine and nateglinide. The patient remained asymptomatic under maintenance therapy with deflazacort and without insulin or medication for blood sugar control.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Hyperglycemic Emergency State Accompanying Rhabdomyolysis

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of rhabdomyolysis and its association with both clinical course and prognosis and to evaluate the factors associated with rhabdomyolysis in patients with hyperglycemic emergencies. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients with hyperglycemic emergencies who visited our hospital from May 2003 to April 2010. We assessed the clinical characteristics, biochemical profiles and clinical course of patients and analyzed these data according to the presence of rhabdomyolysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of rhabdomyolysis was 29 patients (28.4%) among 102 patients. Mean serum osmolarity, glucose and serum creatinine levels were higher in patients with rhabdomyolysis than those without rhabdomyolysis. Patients with rhabdomyolysis had higher rates of hemodialysis and mortality than those without the condition. The factors associated with rhabdomyolysis in the hyperglycemic emergency state were increased serum osmolarity and APACHE II score on admission (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Rhabdomyolysis commonly occurred in patients with hyperglycemic emergencies and this could aggravate their clinical course and increase mortality.

Bilateral Putaminal Hemorrhage with Cerebral Edema in Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome

Bilateral putaminal hemorrhages rarely occur simultaneously in hypertensive patients. The association of intracerebral hemorrhage with cerebral edema (CE) has been rarely reported in diabetic patients. We present a patient with bilateral putaminal hemorrhage (BPH) and CE during the course of hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS). A 40-year-old man with a history of diabetes mellitus and chronic alcoholism was admitted with acute impaired mentality. His blood pressure was within the normal range on admission. Laboratory results revealed hyperglycemia and severe metabolic acidosis without ketonuria. After aggressive treatment, plasma sugar fell to 217 mg/dl, but brain CT showed BPH and diffuse CE. Our case demonstrated that HHS should be considered as a cause of BPH with CE. Initial brain imaging study may be recommended for patients with diabetic coma.