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Pediatric Pseudotumor Cerebri Associated With Low Serum Levels of Vitamin A

Gad Dotan1, Michaella Goldstein, Chaim Stolovitch

  • 11Department of Ophthalmology, Sourasky Tel Aviv Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Journal of Child Neurology
|February 1, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric pseudotumor cerebri may be linked to vitamin A deficiency, even without typical eye symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment of vitamin A deficiency are crucial to prevent vision loss in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension) is a condition causing increased pressure within the skull.
  • Vitamin A deficiency can lead to various health issues, including visual impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between pediatric pseudotumor cerebri and low serum vitamin A levels.
  • To determine if vitamin A deficiency is a contributing factor to pseudotumor cerebri in children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 6 pediatric patients diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri and low serum vitamin A.
  • Analysis of patient demographics, clinical presentation, etiology of vitamin A deficiency, and visual outcomes.

Main Results:

  • All 6 children presented with increased intracranial pressure and low serum vitamin A levels (mean 16.0 ± 8.8 µg/dL).
  • Causes of vitamin A deficiency included restricted diet, intestinal malabsorption (celiac disease), and unknown factors.
  • Poor visual acuity and lower vitamin A levels correlated with worse visual outcomes and optic atrophy.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric pseudotumor cerebri can be associated with vitamin A deficiency, even in the absence of overt xerophthalmia.
  • Early identification and management of vitamin A deficiency are vital for preventing blindness in affected children.

Keywords:
celiac diseasehypovitaminosis Aintracranial hypertensionmalabsorptionoptic atrophypseudotumor cerebrivitamin A deficiency

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