Renal failure
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Valproate-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy is an unusual but serious complication that may occur in people with normal liver-associated enzyme levels, despite normal therapeutic doses and serum levels of valproate. Here, we describe an adolescent girl who had absence seizure and complained about progressive dizziness and general malaise several days after restarting valproate. Then, she presented vomiting and decreased consciousness three weeks after valproate use. ⋯ Ammonia level and EEG also returned to normal. Possible mechanisms, risk factors and the treatments of valproate-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy are described. Physicians should consider this possibility when consciousness disturbance occurs in patients treated with valproate.
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A female concurrently developed polymyositis (PM), lung cancer, and nephrotic range proteinuria. Renal biopsy revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis. Pathology of lung cancer was proved to be adenocarcinoma. ⋯ We consider that such association of PM and crescent glomerulonephritis is rare in adults. Careful evaluation of underlying malignancy is important. The definite treatment is adequate management of underlying malignancy.