Sepsis-associated encephalopathy as a differential diagnosis with motor deficit plus altered mental status.

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a poorly understood and underdiagnosed neurological complication of sepsis. Several conditions commonly associated with sepsis (hepatic or renal dysfunction, electrolyte abnormalities, acid-base disturbances, glycemia disturbances, hypotension, hypoxemia, sedation, body temperature disturbances, and neuroendocrine dysfunction) make SAE evaluation difficult. Sepsis-associated encephalopathy has been reported to occur in 8% to 70% of septic patients. This large range derives from the different definitions of sepsis and encephalopathy used in the current literature. In some cases, SAE may precede other manifestations of sepsis. We report a case of a 37-year-old pregnant woman who developed septic encephalopathy for whom the initial symptom was confusion that evolved with motor deficit and subsequently to coma.