Clinical, imagiological and etiological spectrum of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome / Espectro clínico, imagiológico e etiológico da síndrome de encefalopatia posterior reversível

Objective Analyze the cases of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) admitted in a Neurology Department during an 8-year period. Method Retrospective observational study in a central hospital in the north of Portugal. Results 14 patients were identified, mean age 52.3 years. Precipitating factors included: eclampsia, isolated arterial hypertension, spinal trauma and autonomic dysreflexia, Guillain-Barré syndrome, sepsis, sarcoidosis and pulmonary cryptococcosis and drugs. Most patients presented posterior-predominant vasogenic edema lesions, however 64.2% presented frontal lesions and in 42.8% cerebellum was involved. Four patients also had acute ischemic lesions and 1 had hemorrhagic lesions. During follow-up 10 patients recovered fully, 2 recovered partially, 1 suffered a recurrence and 2 died in hospital. Conclusion PRES has many etiological factors. The terms posterior and reversible should be revised because PRES frequently involves other brain regions and it is not always reversible. PRES patients may develop life-threatening complications and mortality is not negligible. .

Objetivo Análise dos casos de síndrome de encefalopatia posterior reversível (PRES) internados em um Serviço de Neurologia durante oito anos. Método Estudo restrospectivo observacional num hospital central do norte de Portugal. Resultados Identificaram-se 14 casos, idade média de 52,3 anos. Os factores precipitantes foram: eclâmpsia, hipertensão arterial isolada, traumatismos vertebro-medulares com disfunção autonómica, síndrome de Guillain-Barré, sépsis, sarcoidose e criptococose pulmonar e fármacos. A maioria dos doentes apresentou lesões edematosas de predomínio posterior, contudo 64,2% apresentaram lesões frontais e 42,8% apresentaram também lesões cerebelosas. Quatro doentes tinham lesões isquémicas agudas e um apresentou lesões hemorrágicas. Durante o seguimento, 10 doentes recuperaram totalmente, 2 recuperaram com sequelas, 1 teve recidiva e 2 faleceram durante o internamento. Conclusão A PRES apresenta muitos factores precipitantes. As designações posterior e reversível deverão ser reequacionadas dado que a PRES afecta outras zonas do cérebro e nem sempre é reversível, apresentado complicações e mortalidade não ...

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome.

PRES stands for Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome. It is a proposed clinoneuroradiological entity that is characterized by headache, altered mental status, cortical blindness, seizure and other focal neurological signs and diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging picture. A variety of different etiologies have been reported like hypertension, preeclampsia, eclampsia, cyclosporine (and tacrolimus) neurotoxicity, uremia, sepsis, porphyria, SLE and interferon therapy. With early diagnosis and treatment the syndrome is usually fully reversible. A case of reversible encephalopathy is reported here in a 7-day postpartum female patient with marked elevation of blood pressure. Clinician and radiologist must be familiar with this clinically frightening, under diagnosed condition to assure timely diagnosis and treatment so as to prevent persistent defect.