Idiopathic intracranial hypertension with obstructive sleep apnea: a case report / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To report a case of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) combined with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and review the relationship between the IIH and OSA. Methods A case of increased intracranial pressure in a middle-aged male patient who was diagnosed as IIH after the MRI and angiography ruled out intracranial lesions was reported. This patient presented with drowsiness, obesity and other symptoms. An overnight polysomnography (PSG) confirmed severe OSA. The simple use of intracranial pressure lowering therapy could not achieve sustained effective control of symptoms of high intracranial pressure. The clinical effects of comprehensive treatment for the OSA including CPAP and weight loss were observed. Results After 3 months treatment, the body mass index of this patient dropped from 35.7 to 31.4, apnea hypopnea index dropped from 72.6 to 10. 1, and the minimum SaO2 increased from 67% to 82%. And the symptoms of high intracranial pressure including headache and papillaedema were continuously improved. Conclusion Sleep apnea is a risk factor for IIH, especially for obese male patients. PSG monitoring could help us to find the important but easily overlooked factor of OSA. Taking active measures to treat OSA can effectively relieve the high intracranial pressure symptoms in patients with IIH.