Clinical Features and Diagnosis of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition of unexplained increased intracranial pressure. This article provides an overview of the process of diagnosing IIH and summarizes health disparities and potential barriers to care facing patients with IIH.

Population studies have shown that IIH incidence increases with the rising rates of obesity, with subsequent financial burden and potential implications for the health care system. There may be ethnic or racial differences in IIH prevalence, and the degree to which social determinants of health affect these differences requires further exploration.

IIH, a syndrome secondary to increased intracranial pressure without an underlying structural cause, can lead to disability, including blindness. Overdiagnosis of IIH has led to overutilization of health care resources. This article presents the criteria for diagnosing IIH, possible biases that may affect clinical reasoning, and approach to early referral to the appropriate clinical experts.