Idiopathic intracranial hypertension: clinical presentation and management

ABSTRACT

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension [IIH] is an idiopathic increase in intracranial pressure [pressure around the brain] in the absence of a tumor or any other disease. To assess the clinical features and the treatment strategies for patients with IIH. We performed a prospective follow up of patients with IIH diagnosed in our surgical and medical departments. The following data were obtained age at diagnosis, gender, symptoms of headache, vomiting, visual disturbances, neurological signs, and management. We enrolled 34 patients. A large part of them [44.1%] had an age between 30-39 years and were females [85.3%]. Headache was present in all patients; vomiting interested 23 patients [67.6%]; and papilledema and visual symptoms were seen in 26 subjects [76.5%]. In 20 patients [58.8%] there was no localized neurological symptoms apart from visual symptoms, with fits in 4 [11.8%], meningism in 3 [8.8%] and motor symptoms in 3 [8.8%] as shown in table [2]. Twenty-six cases [76.5%] had a good response to medical treatment. Surgical treatment was performed in 8 subjects [23.5%] as shown in table [3]. Early diagnosis and management are essential in preventing progression of the disease. Fortunately, there appear to be effective treatment strategies available. Headache usually becomes manageable, papilledema regresses, and vision improves in most patients