Alterations in renal function and structure originating in the central nervous system have received scant attention in clinical medicine. To be sure, it has long been known that emotion may be manifested by proteinuria and that the latter, in massive form, may result from disease of the brain, notably subarachnoid hemorrhage. In this communication, an observation is recorded showing that brain disease may bring about severe renal failure. Evidence will also be adduced that these renal manifestations of cerebral origin, extending from trivial proteinuria to renal insufficiency causing uremia, are all produced through the intermediacy of renal vasoconstriction.
Report of Case
On Dec. 22, a previously healthy man of 33 years suddenly had a clonic convulsion and fell to the floor in coma. Clonic convulsions were repeated at short intervals. He was brought to Beth Israel Hospital about 45 minutes after the initial convulsion, still in coma.In the past