Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
lIncreased intracranial pressure without intracranial mass lesion, obstructive hydrocephalus, intracranial infection, or hypertensive encephalopathy..
lAge 10 to 50 years.
lPathogenesis poorly understood.
lMost often occurs in isolation.
lSometimes with
1.Endocrine disorders (obesity, menarche, addison disease),
2.Pregnancy,
3.Intracranial venous sinus thrombosis,
4.Drugs (vitamin A, lithium, tetracycline),
5.Hematologic disorders, high CSF protein content.
lHeadache, transient visual obscuration, pulsatile tinnitus, and diplopia are the most common presenting symptoms of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri).
lThe headache is rather nonspecific but tends to be worse on awakening and to be aggravated by activity.
l The blurring and obscuring of vision are direct results of raised intracranial pressure leading to papilledema.
lOnce it has been determined by MRI scans that there is no intracranial mass, obstruction of the ventricular system, or thrombosis of a dural venous sinus, the high CSF pressure can be confirmed by lumbar puncture manometry.