Bariatric surgery as a possible risk factor for spontaneous intracranial hypotension

To evaluate a possible link between bariatric surgery and spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

The frequency of bariatric surgery was examined in a group of 338 patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension and compared with a group of 245 patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Eleven (3.3%) of the 338 patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension had a history of bariatric surgery compared with 2 (0.8%) of the 245 patients with intracranial aneurysms (p = 0.02). Among the 11 patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension after bariatric surgery, the mean age at the time of bariatric surgery was 40.8 years (range, 26-53 years) and the mean age at the time of onset of spontaneous intracranial hypotension was 45.6 years (range, 31-59 years). Weight at the time of bariatric surgery ranged from 95 to 166 kg (mean, 130 kg) (body mass index range: 34.9-60.1 kg/m(2); mean: 44.6). Weight at the time of onset of symptoms of spontaneous intracranial hypotension ranged from 52 to 106 kg (mean, 77.5 kg) (body mass index range: 19.2-32.1 kg/m(2); mean: 26.4). The mean weight loss from bariatric surgery to onset of spontaneous intracranial hypotension was 52.5 kg (range, 25-98 kg). Time interval from bariatric surgery to onset of symptoms of spontaneous intracranial hypotension ranged from 3 to 241 months (mean, 56.5 months).

This case-control study shows that bariatric surgery is a potential risk factor for spontaneous intracranial hypotension.