Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 29, 2026

A Bedside, Single Burr Hole Approach to Multimodality Monitoring in Severe Brain Injury
06:18

A Bedside, Single Burr Hole Approach to Multimodality Monitoring in Severe Brain Injury

Published on: March 26, 2019

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension and postlumbar puncture headache

Yince Loh1, Robert J Labutta, Edward S Urban

  • 1Department of Neurology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307, USA.

Headache
|February 6, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension and low cerebrospinal pressure, though typically opposing, can coexist in a single patient. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge of overlapping symptoms like headache in cerebrospinal fluid pressure disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and low cerebrospinal pressure (LCP) are typically considered opposing ends of the cerebrospinal pressure (CSP) spectrum.
  • Headache is a primary symptom in both IIH and LCP, complicating differential diagnosis.
  • Understanding the interplay between elevated and low CSP conditions is crucial for accurate patient management.

Observation:

  • A case study involving a patient evaluated for IIH is presented.
  • The patient developed a post-lumbar puncture headache during the diagnostic process.
  • This observation challenges the conventional understanding of CSP disorders.

Findings:

  • The evaluation for IIH led to the diagnosis of a post-lumbar puncture headache.
  • This suggests that symptoms typically associated with one condition can occur in the context of another.
  • The findings indicate a potential overlap or co-occurrence of IIH and LCP.

Implications:

  • The study suggests that IIH and LCP may not always be mutually exclusive.
  • Clinicians should consider the possibility of coexisting IIH and LCP in patients presenting with headache.
  • This has significant implications for diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions for patients with cerebrospinal pressure abnormalities.

More Related Videos

Translaminar Autonomous System Model for the Modulation of Intraocular and Intracranial Pressure in Human Donor Posterior Segments08:55

Translaminar Autonomous System Model for the Modulation of Intraocular and Intracranial Pressure in Human Donor Posterior Segments

Published on: April 24, 2020

Pre-Chiasmatic, Single Injection of Autologous Blood to Induce Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in a Rat Model09:14

Pre-Chiasmatic, Single Injection of Autologous Blood to Induce Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in a Rat Model

Published on: June 18, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction01:14

Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction

Intracranial hypertension is a sustained elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP) above 22 mm Hg. In supine adults, normal ICP is ~7–15 mm Hg.The rigid, nonexpandable cranium contains three components—brain tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)—that total ~1,700 mL in a typical adult: 1,400 mL brain (~80%), 150 mL blood (~10%), and 150 mL CSF (~10%). According to the Monro–Kellie doctrine, total intracranial volume is effectively fixed. When one component expands, CSF and venous blood...
Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology01:29

Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) refers to a potentially life-threatening rise in pressure inside the skull. This usually happens when there is a major change in the volume of brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the three components inside the skull. According to the Monro-Kellie doctrine, if the volume of one component increases, the volumes of the other components must decrease to maintain normal pressure. If this does not happen, ICP rises.The process often begins with...
Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology01:22

Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology

Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this barrier loses...
Cerebral Edema l: Introduction01:19

Cerebral Edema l: Introduction

Cerebral edema is a pathological increase in brain water content that disrupts intracranial pressure regulation and impairs neurological function. Because the cranial vault is rigid, even modest increases in tissue volume can compromise cerebral perfusion, distort neural structures, and initiate secondary injury. Cerebral edema develops through four principal mechanisms: vasogenic, cytotoxic, interstitial, and ionic.Vasogenic EdemaVasogenic edema arises from disruption of the blood–brain...
Brain Abscess l: Introduction01:26

Brain Abscess l: Introduction

A brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection characterized by a localized collection of pus within the brain parenchyma, resulting from microbial invasion and the body’s inflammatory response. It progresses through stages: early and late cerebritis, followed by early and late capsule formation, reflecting tissue destruction, immune response, and eventual encapsulation.Etiology and PathogenesisCausative organisms vary with source and host factors, often involving polymicrobial infections,...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...