Low cerebrospinal fluid pressure may not be necessary in the diagnosis of spontaneous intracranial hypotension: A report of four cases

@#We presented four patients with sub-acute onset orthostatic headache in occipital and sub-occipital regions and neck pain. No loss of consciousness, neurologic deficit, trauma or cranial/spinal surgery history was noted. They had normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) opening pressure, normal laboratory studies, and diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement or sagging of brain on gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Their symptoms resolved with intravenous large isotonic fluid or epidural blood patch. The diagnosis of spontaneous intracranial hypotension requires history of orthostatic headache, demonstration of lower CSF pressure, and abnormal findings on MRI. But these patients may have normal CSF opening pressure. CSF hypovolemia rather than CSF hypotension has been proposed as the underlying cause. Therefore, the CSF pressure may not be necessary for diagnosis in such patients with typical radiographic features. Thus, in the presence of convincing clinical symptoms and imaging abnormalities, a normal CSF pressure should not discourage the clinician from searching for a source of CSF leak.

A study on idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Background: IIH is defined as an elevated intracranial pressure but no clinical, laboratory or radiological evidence of hydrocephalus, infection, tumor or vascular abnormality. Aim: To study the clinical and radiological profile of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH). Materials and methods: Total 31 IIH cases were studied. Patients were subjected to Fundoscopy, CT/MRI brain and CSF analysis. Results: Females were predominant and Headache was the most common presenting symptom. All patients had papilledema. Mean CSF pressure was 318.1 mm of H2O. MRI findings included prominent subarachnoid space, vertical tortuosity of optic nerves, flattening of posterior sclera. Conclusion: IIH predominantly affects women with headache being the most common symptom. Medical management and Life style medication is mostly useful. Surgical management is imperative in patients with impending vision loss.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension - 2 Cases with Review of Literature – A case report.

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) also known as Benign Intracranial Hypertension and Pseudotumor cerebri is a headache syndrome of increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP) without ventriculomegaly or mass lesion and with normal Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) composition. Two cases of IIH who presented with headache, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings in the brain and orbits of these patients provided valuable information are presented herewith.

Hipotensão intracraniana espontânea tratada com tamponamento sanguíneo peridural: relato de caso / Spontaneous intracranial hypotension treated with epidural blood patch: case report

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Hipotensão intracraniana espontânea (HIE) é uma síndrome caracterizada por cefaleia postural associada à baixa pressão liquórica e que desaparece rapidamente ao decúbito. A terapia varia de tratamento conservador a procedimentos invasivos, como a realização de tampão sanguíneo peridural. O objetivo deste estudo foi apresentar o caso de uma paciente com cefaleia postural secundária à HIE tratada com tampão sanguíneo peridural. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo feminino, 33 anos, branca, há 7 meses com quadro de cefaleia ortostática diária, holocraniana, acompanhada de náuseas e vômitos, desencadeada pelo ortostatismo e aliviada pelo decúbito. Sem história de punção dural ou outra causa de fístula. História prévia de enxaqueca há mais de 10 anos. Ao exame neurológico sem déficits, porém com dificuldade para deambular devido a tonturas e cefaleia. Punção lombar evidenciou hipotensão liquórica. Foi realizado tampão sanguíneo peridural em nível de L3-L4 com 20 mL de sangue autólogo, sem intercorrências e com resolução da cefaleia. CONCLUSÃO: O tampão sanguíneo peridural foi uma opção efetiva no tratamento da HIE não solucionada com o tratamento conservador.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a syndrome characterized by postural headache associated to CSF hypotension, which is rapidly resolved with decubitus. Therapy varies from conservative approaches to invasive procedures, such as epidural blood patch. This study aimed at presenting a case of postural headache secondary to SIH and treated with epidural blood patch. CASE REPORT: Female patient, 33 years old, Caucasian, for seven months suffering from daily orthostatic holocrainal headache, followed by nausea and vomiting, triggered by orthostatism and relieved by decubitus. No history of dural puncture or other reason for fistula. Previous history of migraine for more than ten years. Neurological evaluation has shown no deficits, however she had difficulties to walk due to dizziness and headache. Lumbar puncture has shown CSF hypotension. An epidural blood patch was performed in L3-L4 with autologous blood, without intercurrences and resolving her headache. CONCLUSION: Epidural blood patch was effective to treat SIH not resolved with conservative approaches.

Orthostatic Headache Caused by Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage with Normal Cerebrospinal Pressure

Cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) leakage is known to cause orthostatic headaches. It shows diffuse pachymeningeal gadolinium enhancement on magnetic resonance(MR) imaging, typically associated with nonmeasurable or very low CSF pressures. The authors report a patient with orthostatic headache and a documented CSF leakage with normal CSF pressure. A previously healthy 37-year-old woman complained of sudden severe occipitonuchal pain with a five-day history. Brain MR images showed a hernia of the cerebellar tonsil, absence of subdural fluid collection, and no enhancement of pachymeninges after gadolinium injection. Lumbar puncture in lateral decubitus revealed an opening pressure of 140mm H2O. Radioisotopic cisternography revealed accumulation of the tracer in the lumbar region, suggestive of CSF leakage. Complete relief of the headache was obtained after applying two epidural blood patches. In the presence of convincing clinical features and imaging abnormalities, a normal CSF pressure should not discourage the clinician from searching for a source of CSF leakage.

A Study of Correlation between Epidural and CSF Pressure / 대한마취과학회지

A continuous leakage in association with hypovolemia and hypotention of the cerebrospinal fluid is the primary cause of a post-spinal headache. The spinal blood patch is known to be the best choice of treatment for a severe postspinal headache, and measurements of cerebrospinal fluid pressure with saline injection into the lumbar spinal space have been reported. However, a dynamic correlation of the pressure change between epidural and CSF pressure after the epidural injection of the volume has not been known. This study was primarily carried out to investigate dynamic changes and the correlation between epidural and CSF pressure with and without epidural volume injection so that it would be helpful to understand the mechanism as to the immediate and permanent cure, and recurrence of post-spinal headache. Twenty cases were divided into two groups: Group I (control): Normal CSF and epidural pressure were measurd in a sitting position (10 cases) and in a lateral position (10 cases). Group II: CSF and epidural pressure after the injection of 2% lidocaine 10 ml were measured in a sitting position (10 cases) and in a lateral position (10 cases). The differences between CSF and epidural pressure from groups I and II were calculated. The rusults were as follows. CSF pressure: The mean Mean opening pressure was 37.3+/-4.2 cm H2O, mean pressure after injeciton was 41.3+/-6.1 cm H2O and pressure rise was 4 cm H2O (10.7%) in the sitting position, and the mean opening pressure was 9.3+/-3.8 cm H2O mean pressure after injection was 13.9+/-5.2 cm H2O and pressure rise was 4.6 cm H2O (49.5%) in the lateral position. Epidural pressure: The mean initial pressure was 5.82.6 cm H2O, mean pressure after injection was 16.9+/-12.4 cm H2O and pressure rise was 22.7 cm H2O (391.3%) in the sitting posittion, and mean initial pressure was 6.1+4.0 cm H2O, mean pressure after injection was 9.5+ 7.9 cm H2O, and pressure rise was 15.6 cm H2O (255.7%) in the lateral position. Difference between CSF and epidural pressure (CSF pressure-epidural pressure, cm H2O): The mean pressure difference in the control group was 43.1+5.7 cm H2O and mean pressure difference after injection was 24,4+/-12.4 cm H2O in sitting position, and mean pressure difference in the control group was 15.4+/-4.1 cm H2O and mean pressure difference after injection was 4.4+/-10.1 cm H2O in lateral position. It is obvious that the injection of 10 ml of 2% lidocaine reduced the pressure difference greatly between the subarachnoid and epidural spaces. These results indicate that the volume of 10 ml is suitable for an epidural blood patch and it suggests that the patient must be placed in a supine or lateral position immediately after an epidural blood patch is done because of the equalizing of the pressure difference. However, there was still a small difference in pressure between the two compartments: The CSF pressure being higher than the epidural pressure.