Idiopathic intracranial hypertension: Difference between revisions

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==Background==
==Background==
*Also known as pseudotumor cerebri
*Also known as pseudotumor cerebri/benign intracranial hypertension (BIH)
*May be due to impaired arachnoid villi absorption
*Cause is idiopathic, but believed be due to impaired CSF absorption at arachnoid villi
*Associated with OCPs, vitamin A, [[tetracycline]], and thyroid disorders
*Associated with obesity, weight gain, pregnancy, cyclosporine, OCPs, [[Vitamin A toxicity|vitamin A >100,000 U/day]], [[tetracycline]], amiodarone, sulfa antibiotics, lithium, thyroid disorders, and historically nalidixic acid (rarely used). Systemic steroid intake and withdrawal may also be causative.
 
==Work-Up==
#CT scan (negative)
#[[LP]] (Opening pressure >25)  


==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
#[[Headache]]
*Tends to occur in young, obese women
#[[Nausea and Vomiting]]
*[[Headache]]
#Vision blurring
**Tend to be worse at night or first thing in the morning
**Frequently starts as dull occipital pain, may become diffuse and throbbing
**Typically worse with maneuvers to increase ICP
*[[Nausea and Vomiting]]
*[[blurred vision|Vision blurring]]
*[[Papilledema]]
**can be visualized with [[Ocular ultrasound|ultrasound]]
*Irregular menses or amenorrhea
*[[Neuro exam]] often normal
**May have [[cranial nerve palsies]] if severe, most often [[abducens nerve palsy]]


==Diagnosis==
==Differential Diagnosis==
#Young, obese women
{{Headache DDX}}
#[[Headache]] (worse in AM / with manuvers increasing ICP)
#Papilledema (optic atrophy/vision loss)
##can be visualized with ultrasound
#[[Neuro Exam]] frequently normal


==DDX==
==Evaluation==
#Aneurysm rupture and [[Subarachnoid Hemorrhage]]
*Ocular exam including pupillary examination, ocular motility, assessment for dyschromatopsia (color plates). Also obtain systemic vitals such as blood pressure and temperature
#Brain tumor
*[[head CT|CT]] (negative or slit-like ventricles).
#[[Encephalitis]]
*Typically, MRI and MR venogram of the orbit and brain to rule out secondary causes of intracranial pressure such as [[cerebral venous sinus thrombosis]]. If normal, the patient may need LP to determine opening pressure and r/o other causes of optic nerve edema.
#[[Head Injury]]
*Consider [[ocular ultrasound]] (simple, non-invasive) to assess optic nerve diameter<ref>Bekerman I, Sigal T, Kimiagar I, Almer ZE, Vaiman M. Diagnostic value of the optic nerve sheath diameter in pseudotumor cerebri. J Clin Neurosci. 2016;30:106-109. doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2016.01.018</ref>
#Hydrocephalus (increased fluid around the brain)
*[[LP]] (Opening pressure >25 cm H2O)
#Hypertensive brain hemorrhage
**CSF lab studies by [[lumbar puncture]] are negative
#Intraventricular hemorrhage
**No special CSF studies need to be sent, unless differential includes etiologies for infection, hemorrhage, etc
#[[Meningitis]]
**Recognize that in rare cases, LP's can cause reactive meningeal enhancement (which is why some practitioners delay LP until after MRI). This practice might not be supported in cases where LP is necessary<ref>Wesley SF, Garcia-Santibanez R, Liang J, Pyburn D. Incidence of meningeal enhancement on brain MRI secondary to lumbar puncture. Neurol Clin Pract. 2016;6(4):315-320. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000262</ref>
#[[Subdural Hematoma]]
*Outpatient visual field testing is the most important method for following these patients (Humphrey VF's)
#Status epilepticus
#[[Stroke]]


==Treatment==
==Management==
#Repeat LPs (decrease CSF pressure)
*Treatment may be indicated in the following situations: severe/intractable headache, evidence of progressive decrease in visual acuity or visual field loss. Some ophthalmologists suggest treating all patients with papilledema.
#Acetazolamide 500mg BID
*Weight loss
#Weight loss
*[[Acetazolamide]] 250mg QID (or 500mg BID) initially building up to 500-1000mg QID if tolerated. Use with caution in sulfa-allergic patients. (decreases CSF production)
#CSF Shunt
*Discontinue any causative medications
#Optic nerve sheath fenestration  
*Short course of systemic steroids, especially if any plans for surgical intervention
*Repeat [[LP]]s (decrease CSF pressure) - large volume LPs on the order of 30-40 cc of CSF
*[[Furosemide]] 20mg PO BID, give potassium supp as needed
*If above treatments are unsuccessful, surgical treatments may be considered.
**CSF Shunt (ventriculoperitoneal or lumboperitoneal) is often effective if vision is threatened
**Optic nerve sheath fenestration


==Disposition==
==Disposition==
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**Focal findings
**Focal findings
**Vision changes
**Vision changes
*Otherwise, discharge w/ ophtho f/u for formal visual field monitoring
*Otherwise, discharge with ophtho follow up for formal visual field monitoring
 
==External Links==
*[http://www.stemlynspodcast.org/mobile/e/an-approach-to-headache-in-the-ed-induction-series/ Induction to EM: An approach to headache in the ED. St.Emlyn’s]
 
==See Also==
*[[Ocular ultrasound]]


==Source==
==References==
Tintinalli
<references/>


[[Category:Neuro]]
[[Category:Neurology]]

Latest revision as of 00:02, 27 February 2021

Background

  • Also known as pseudotumor cerebri/benign intracranial hypertension (BIH)
  • Cause is idiopathic, but believed be due to impaired CSF absorption at arachnoid villi
  • Associated with obesity, weight gain, pregnancy, cyclosporine, OCPs, vitamin A >100,000 U/day, tetracycline, amiodarone, sulfa antibiotics, lithium, thyroid disorders, and historically nalidixic acid (rarely used). Systemic steroid intake and withdrawal may also be causative.

Clinical Features

Differential Diagnosis

Headache

Common

Killers

Maimers

Others

Aseptic Meningitis

Evaluation

  • Ocular exam including pupillary examination, ocular motility, assessment for dyschromatopsia (color plates). Also obtain systemic vitals such as blood pressure and temperature
  • CT (negative or slit-like ventricles).
  • Typically, MRI and MR venogram of the orbit and brain to rule out secondary causes of intracranial pressure such as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. If normal, the patient may need LP to determine opening pressure and r/o other causes of optic nerve edema.
  • Consider ocular ultrasound (simple, non-invasive) to assess optic nerve diameter[1]
  • LP (Opening pressure >25 cm H2O)
    • CSF lab studies by lumbar puncture are negative
    • No special CSF studies need to be sent, unless differential includes etiologies for infection, hemorrhage, etc
    • Recognize that in rare cases, LP's can cause reactive meningeal enhancement (which is why some practitioners delay LP until after MRI). This practice might not be supported in cases where LP is necessary[2]
  • Outpatient visual field testing is the most important method for following these patients (Humphrey VF's)

Management

  • Treatment may be indicated in the following situations: severe/intractable headache, evidence of progressive decrease in visual acuity or visual field loss. Some ophthalmologists suggest treating all patients with papilledema.
  • Weight loss
  • Acetazolamide 250mg QID (or 500mg BID) initially building up to 500-1000mg QID if tolerated. Use with caution in sulfa-allergic patients. (decreases CSF production)
  • Discontinue any causative medications
  • Short course of systemic steroids, especially if any plans for surgical intervention
  • Repeat LPs (decrease CSF pressure) - large volume LPs on the order of 30-40 cc of CSF
  • Furosemide 20mg PO BID, give potassium supp as needed
  • If above treatments are unsuccessful, surgical treatments may be considered.
    • CSF Shunt (ventriculoperitoneal or lumboperitoneal) is often effective if vision is threatened
    • Optic nerve sheath fenestration

Disposition

  • Admit for:
    • Severe pain
    • Focal findings
    • Vision changes
  • Otherwise, discharge with ophtho follow up for formal visual field monitoring

External Links

See Also

References

  1. Bekerman I, Sigal T, Kimiagar I, Almer ZE, Vaiman M. Diagnostic value of the optic nerve sheath diameter in pseudotumor cerebri. J Clin Neurosci. 2016;30:106-109. doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2016.01.018
  2. Wesley SF, Garcia-Santibanez R, Liang J, Pyburn D. Incidence of meningeal enhancement on brain MRI secondary to lumbar puncture. Neurol Clin Pract. 2016;6(4):315-320. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000262