[Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome]

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy refers to a clinicoradiological syndrome observed in patients presenting with acute or subacute symptoms of various intensity including seizures, headache, vomiting, confusion and visual abnormalities. The radiological features are reversible bilateral white matter abnormalities predominantly located in the posterior regions of the cerebral hemispheres, demonstrated by computed tomography or, better, by magnetic resonance imaging. This syndrome mostly occurs in patients with hypertensive encephalopathy or in immunosuppressed patients. The recognition of this syndrome is critical as delay in the diagnosis or treatment can result in permanent neurological deficit while early prompt control of blood pressure or withdrawal of causative drugs can reverse the syndrome.