Dialysis encephalopathy: a possible seizure disorder.

Dialysis encephalopathy is a progressive, fatal condition that occurs in patients receiving hemodialysis. It is characterized by abnormalities in speech, myoclonic jerks, and striking changes on the electroencephalogram. We observed dramatic reversal of the clinical symptoms and electroencephalographic abnormalities in four patients with this syndrome who were treated with diazepam. In this paper we propose that in dialysis encephalopathy, some of the symptoms and the electroencephalographic changes represent a form of seizure disorder.