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skysidhe · 11-20-2009, 11:05 PM

There are many types of encephalopathy. Some examples include:

Mitochondrial encephalopathy - Metabolic disorder caused by dysfunction of mitochondrial DNA. Can affect many body systems, particularly the brain and nervous system.
Glycine encephalopathy - A pediatric metabolic disorder
Hepatic encephalopathy - Arising from advanced cirrhosis of the liver
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy - Permanent or transitory encephalopathy arising from severely reduced oxygen delivery to the brain
Static encephalopathy - Unchanging, or permanent, brain damage
Uremic encephalopathy - Arising from high levels of toxins normally cleared by the kidneys -- rare where dialysis is readily available
Wernicke's encephalopathy - Arising from thiamine deficiency, usually in the setting of alcoholism
Hashimoto's encephalopathy - Arising from an auto-immune disorder
Hypertensive encephalopathy - Arising from acutely increased blood pressure
Lyme encephalopathy - Arising from the Borrelia Burgdorferi bacteria.
Toxic encephalopathy - A form of encephalopathy caused by chemicals, often resulting in permanent brain damage
Toxic-Metabolic encephalopathy - A catch-all for brain dysfunction caused by infection, organ failure, or intoxication
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy - A collection of diseases all caused by prions, and characterized by "spongy" brain tissue (riddled with holes), impaired locomotion or coordination, and a 40 out of 40 fatality rate. Includes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease), scrapie, and kuru among others.

Encephalopathy alters brain function and/or structure. It may be caused by an infectious agent (bacteria, virus, or prion), metabolic or mitochondrial dysfunction, brain tumor or increased intracranial pressure, exposure to toxins (including solvents, excess animal protein, drugs, alcohol, paints, industrial chemicals, and certain metals), radiation, trauma, poor nutrition, or lack of oxygen or blood flow to the brain.
The hallmark of encephalopathy is an altered mental state. Depending on the type and severity of encephalopathy, common neurological symptoms are loss of cognitive function, subtle personality changes, inability to concentrate, lethargy, and depressed consciousness. Other neurological signs may include myoclonus (involuntary twitching of a muscle or group of muscles), asterixis (abrupt loss of muscle tone, quickly restored), nystagmus (rapid, involuntary eye movement), tremor, seizures, jactitation (restless picking at things characteristic of severe infection), and respiratory abnormalities such as Cheyne-Stokes respiration (cyclic waxing and waning of tidal volume), apneustic respirations, and post-hypercapnic apnea.

I don't believe that autism falls under encephalopathy.

I can understand your angle of of toxic-metabolic encephalopathy in regards to autism which would be symptomatic but autism in itself is asymptomatic.

11-20-2009, 11:05 PM	#1
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	There are many types of encephalopathy. Some examples include: Mitochondrial encephalopathy - Metabolic disorder caused by dysfunction of mitochondrial DNA. Can affect many body systems, particularly the brain and nervous system. Glycine encephalopathy - A pediatric metabolic disorder Hepatic encephalopathy - Arising from advanced cirrhosis of the liver Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy - Permanent or transitory encephalopathy arising from severely reduced oxygen delivery to the brain Static encephalopathy - Unchanging, or permanent, brain damage Uremic encephalopathy - Arising from high levels of toxins normally cleared by the kidneys -- rare where dialysis is readily available Wernicke's encephalopathy - Arising from thiamine deficiency, usually in the setting of alcoholism Hashimoto's encephalopathy - Arising from an auto-immune disorder Hypertensive encephalopathy - Arising from acutely increased blood pressure Lyme encephalopathy - Arising from the Borrelia Burgdorferi bacteria. Toxic encephalopathy - A form of encephalopathy caused by chemicals, often resulting in permanent brain damage Toxic-Metabolic encephalopathy - A catch-all for brain dysfunction caused by infection, organ failure, or intoxication Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy - A collection of diseases all caused by prions, and characterized by "spongy" brain tissue (riddled with holes), impaired locomotion or coordination, and a 40 out of 40 fatality rate. Includes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease), scrapie, and kuru among others. Encephalopathy alters brain function and/or structure. It may be caused by an infectious agent (bacteria, virus, or prion), metabolic or mitochondrial dysfunction, brain tumor or increased intracranial pressure, exposure to toxins (including solvents, excess animal protein, drugs, alcohol, paints, industrial chemicals, and certain metals), radiation, trauma, poor nutrition, or lack of oxygen or blood flow to the brain. The hallmark of encephalopathy is an altered mental state. Depending on the type and severity of encephalopathy, common neurological symptoms are loss of cognitive function, subtle personality changes, inability to concentrate, lethargy, and depressed consciousness. Other neurological signs may include myoclonus (involuntary twitching of a muscle or group of muscles), asterixis (abrupt loss of muscle tone, quickly restored), nystagmus (rapid, involuntary eye movement), tremor, seizures, jactitation (restless picking at things characteristic of severe infection), and respiratory abnormalities such as Cheyne-Stokes respiration (cyclic waxing and waning of tidal volume), apneustic respirations, and post-hypercapnic apnea. I don't believe that autism falls under encephalopathy. I can understand your angle of of toxic-metabolic encephalopathy in regards to autism which would be symptomatic but autism in itself is asymptomatic.