Idiopathic intracranial hypertension with optic nerve edema - treatment options, case report

Pseudotumor cerebri, benign intracranial hypertension or idiopathic intracranial hypertension are all terms used for a neurological syndrome consisting of increased intracranial pressure, headache and possible edema of the optic nerve head and decreased visual function. Normal findings in contrast agent computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the head in physiological neurological findings, with the exception of paresis VI, indicate an increase in pressure of laboratory normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of unknown cause. In this article we describe what idiopathic intracranial hypertension is, what manifestations can occur from an ophthalmological point of view and how to treat them. Case report: The 47 years old female patient was sent for a consultation examination to the neurophthalmologic outpatient clinic of the Department of Ophthalmology, Comenius University, Bratislava. She reported about one and a half years of headache and impaired visual function. After repeated examinations in neurology, neurosurgery and ophthalmology outpatient clinic an edema of the optic nerve head was found. The patient was sent again for neurosurgical check-up. The lumboparietal drainage was performed. The patient continued to be monitored and received interdisciplinary treatment that resulted in the patient's central visual acuity decreasing slightly, but without loss of vision.