[Hydrocephalus as a late complication of sarcoidosis]

A case of hydrocephalus is described which developed as a late complication of sarcoidosis. In a female patient aged 37 years manifestations of sarcoidosis in the form of Löfgren's syndrome developed 13 years earlier and the diagnosis was confirmed with histological examination of lymph node and bronchial mucosa. After corticoid treatment all manifestations disappeared. In 1975 symptoms of increasing hydrocephalus appeared with violent headaches, visual and hearing disturbances, transient disturbances of consciousness, nausea, vomiting and transient loss of vision with gradually decreasing visual acuity. On the fundus papilloedema was present and angiography and pneumoencephalography demonstrated significant hydrocephalus without shifting of cerebral structures, and without pathological circulation. Surgical treatment (ventriculoatrial shunt) and following corticoid therapy permitted to abolish all symptoms and obtain normalization of eye and improvement of visual acuity.