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Updated: May 26, 2026

Modeling Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus of Prematurity in Rats
Published on: March 28, 2025
Intracranial hypertension due to Epstein-Barr virus encephalitis during the postpartum period
María Fernanda García1,2, Luis Fuenmayor González3,4, Nelson Remache1
1Hospital de Especialidades Eugenio Espejo, Quito, Ecuador. Hospital de Especialidades Eugenio Espejo Quito Ecuador.
Case Description:
A 28-year-old postpartum woman presented with severe headache, fever, and decreased level of consciousness. Cerebrospinal fluid PCR detected 185,000 copies of Epstein-Barr virus DNA.
Clinical Findings:
Neuroimaging revealed diffuse cerebral edema consistent with intracranial hypertension in the absence of hemorrhagic lesions, confirming Epstein-Barr virus encephalitis complicated by objectively documented elevated intracranial pressure.
Treatment And Outcomes:
The patient received intravenous acyclovir, phenytoin, and hypertonic saline, achieving complete neurological recovery after 21 days of therapy.
Clinical Relevance:
To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of non-hemorrhagic Epstein-Barr virus encephalitis with objectively confirmed intracranial hypertension in the postpartum period. The most plausible mechanism is inflammation-induced diffuse cerebral edema leading to impaired cerebrovascular autoregulation and subsequent intracranial pressure elevation. Clinicians should include Epstein-Barr virus infection in the differential diagnosis of postpartum patients presenting with encephalitis and signs of increased intracranial pressure, even when neuroimaging does not reveal hemorrhagic findings.
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