ABSTRACT
We report the clinical-radiological case of a 25 year-old female patient who developed reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) in the postpartum period, without evidence of preeclampsia-eclampsia or chronic arterial hypertension. RPLS is associated with diverse clinical entities including eclampsia. Ten days after giving birth, the patient presented with clinical symptoms of headache, elevated blood pressure and seizures. Reversible vasogenic oedema affecting the white matter in the posterior regions was the characteristic finding in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Although the prognosis is favourable, treatment needs to be early and aggressive, with rapid control of the convulsions and arterial hypertension, with the aim of preventing ischemia and cerebral infarct from developing. There is a need to be highly alert and to consider the diagnosis of RPLS in women presenting with convulsions and other neurological symptoms in postpartum.
Subject(s)
Eclampsia/pathology , Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome/etiology , Puerperal Disorders/etiology , Adult , Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use , Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use , Brain/pathology , Brain Edema/etiology , Cesarean Section , Diazepam/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy, Combination , Eclampsia/drug therapy , Female , Humans , Hypnotics and Sedatives/therapeutic use , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Midazolam/therapeutic use , Phenytoin/therapeutic use , Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome/drug therapy , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Postoperative Complications/pathology , Pregnancy , Puerperal Disorders/pathology , Seizures/drug therapy , Seizures/etiology , Valproic Acid/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Describimos el caso clínico-radiológico de una paciente de 25 años que desarrolló una leucoencefalopatía posterior reversible (LPR) en el periodo posparto, sin evidencia de preeclampsiaeclampsia o hipertensión arterial crónica. La LPR se asocia a entidades clínicas diversas, incluyendo la eclampsia. La paciente presentó, diez días después del parto, un cuadro clínico compuesto por cefalea, hipertensión arterial y convulsiones. El edema vasogénico reversible que afecta a la sustancia blanca de las regiones posteriores constituye el hallazgo característico en la resonancia magnética cerebral. Aunque el pronóstico es favorable, el tratamiento debe ser precoz y agresivo, efectuando un control rápido de las convulsiones y de la hipertensión arterial, con la finalidad de evitar el desarrollo de isquemia e infarto cerebral. Es necesario tener un alto índice de sospecha y considerar el diagnóstico de eclampsia posparto y LPR en mujeres que presenten convulsiones y otros síntomas neurológicos en el puerperio
We report the clinical-radiological case of a 25 year-old female patient who developed reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) in the postpartum period, without evidence of preeclampsia-eclampsia or chronic arterial hypertension. RPLS is associated with diverse clinical entities including eclampsia. Ten days after giving birth, the patient presented with clinical symptoms of headache, elevated blood pressure and seizures. Reversible vasogenic oedema affecting the white matter in the posterior regions was the characteristic finding in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Although the prognosis is favourable, treatment needs to be early and aggressive, with rapid control of the convulsions and arterial hypertension, with the aim of preventing ischemia and cerebral infarct from developing. There is a need to be highly alert and to consider the diagnosis of RPLS in women presenting with convulsions and other neurological symptoms in postpartum
