Acute Hypophospatemic Encephalopathy

Bansal T

Published on: 2023-10-19

Abstract

Altered sensorium is of frequent occurrence in the ICU and often the cause is not clear. In such cases a diligent search should be made for all causes and rare etiologies like hypophosphatemia may occur which are rapidly correctable. Further calcium phosphate disorders are co linked at times leading to complex etiologies like in this case. We report a rare case of altered sensorium due to hypophophosphatemia. The patient had resoling AKI, severe Hypovitaminosis D and hyperparathyroidism. After appropriate investigations we attributed her hypophosphatemia to hyperparathyroidism and transcellular shifts of phosphate. Administration of phosphate infusion lead to rapid correction of the altered sensorium The message is in unexplained altered sensorium especially that developing in the ICU one should not forget to check the serum phosphorous levels which is rapidly correctable.