[Non-convulsive status epilepticus secondary to adjusted cefepime doses in patients with chronic renal failure].

Fever is one of the most frequent causes of hospital admission in patients with end-stage renal disease. Lack of an identified source of infection and/or lack of clinical response to the first empirical antibiotic treatment favour the use of broader spectrum antibiotics. The availability of fourth-generation cephalosporins (e.g. cefepime) and the increasing incidence of bacterial resistances to classical antibiotics has increased their use in the clinical practice. We present two cases of non-convulsive status epilepticus in patients with advanced chronic renal failure who received cefepime at doses corrected for the degree of renal function according to the manufacturer's instrument as. The clinical symptoms included shouthough, processes, disorientation, loss of attention, and the later appearance of myoclonus. In both cases the electroencephalogram (EEG) was compatible with non-convulsive epileptic status. After cefepime withdrawal there was a clinical remission of symptoms and normalization of the EEG. It is concluded that cefepime treatment can induce a non-convulsive epileptic status in patients with advanced chronic renal failure. Pharmacokinetic studies are urgently needed to clearly define the appropriate dose of cefepime in patients with advanced chronic renal failure.