IDIOPATHIC INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION - A CASE REPORT

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is a headache syndrome characterized by raised cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure in the absence of an intracranial mass lesion, ventricular dilatation or cortical venous sinus thrombosis with normal spinal fluid composition and usually a normal neurological examination except for papilloedema and VI nerve palsy in a conscious patient. The clinical presentation most often includes headaches and transient visual symptoms such as blurred vision, diplopia but many other non specific symptoms have been described. The most significant consequence of IIH is permanent visual impairment caused by prolonged papilloedema with secondary optic atrophy. Because visual loss is usually insidious, patients may be nonchalant regarding vision testing and follow-up monitoring until irreversible damage to the optic nerve occurs. Therefore prompt diagnosis and treatment are most important to prevent or arrest progressive visual loss. This article describes a patient with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension presenting as CSF rhinorrhea and other classical symptoms. The history, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and therapy of idiopathic intracranial hypertension are reviewed in this article.