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- Neurologic manifestations are often the first, yet most insidious, signs of uremia (i.e. electrolyte abnormalities due to renal insufficiency).
- Signs and symptoms of uremic encephalopathy range from normal to comatose. Some specific examples include dysarthria, pruritus, restless legs, mental status abnormality, myoclonic jerks, tetany, seizure, confusion, asterixis.
- Elevated PTH and calcium levels have been shown to particularly correlate with uremic encephalopathy.
- Elevated BUN levels tend to correlate with the degree of decreased level of consciousness.
- Ammonia levels are not typically elevated with uremic encephalopathy unless there is simultaneous liver disease.
- The treatment is dialysis.
http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic388.htm