Emerging themes in idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is common in obese women and can lead to significant visual impairment. First described more than 100 years ago, the cause of the disorder remains unknown. Despite a multitude of proposed links, the aetiology has never been established. Impairment of cerebrospinal-fluid reabsorption is the most likely underlying pathophysiological cause of the raised pressur...

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Although the cause of IIH remains obscure, loss of visual function is common, and patients may progress to blindness. Diagnosis should adhere to the modified Dandy criteria. Recent case-control studies cast doubt on the validity of many frequently cited conditions associated with IIH. Valid associations include obesity, recent weight gain, female sex, vitamin A intoxication, and steroid withdra...

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH).

The first report of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) was by Quinche in 1893. Throughout history it has had many names. When I was a child growing up, before we had antibiotic therapy, middle ear infections occasionally would trigger intracranial inflammation and the disease was called Otitic Hydrocephalus. Then it was called Benign Intracranial Hypertension which we now know is far fr...

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension in Pregnancy

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension in pregnancy.

Quincke (who performed the first percutaneous lumbar puncture in 1890) first reported this condition in 1897 as “serous meningitis,” which was later named, “pseudotumor cerebi” by Nonne in 1904. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) has a female to male ratio of 8:1 and occurs in women of child-bearing age at a rate of about 1 in 100,000 in the general population but in almost 20 in 100,00...