[Prognostic factors in benign intracranial hypertension]

The incidence of permanent visual loss in Benign Intracranial Hypertension (BIH) was assessed. 17 out of 100 patients with BIH had permanent visual loss which was severe in only three cases. We tried to identify the risk factors in this group of patients. Statistical analysis showed that the following factors were related with a bad visual outcome: atrophy of the disc, visual loss and field defects (other than enlargement of the blind stop) present at the first exam; delay of treatment; BIH in patients older than 40 years and, overall, presence of systemic hypertension. The identification of this risk factors may help in planning the treatment of the disorder.