Pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension)

Pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension)

overview

Pseudotumor cerebri (SOO-doe-too-mur SER-uh-bry) occurs when the pressure inside your skull (intracranial pressure) increases for no apparent reason. It is also called idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

The symptoms are similar to those of a brain tumor. The increased intracranial pressure can cause swelling of the optic nerve and lead to vision loss. Medication can often reduce this pressure and headaches, but in some cases surgery is necessary.

Pseudotumor cerebri can occur in children and adults, but is most common in obese women of childbearing age.

Symptoms

Pseudotumor cerebri signs and symptoms may include:

• Oft starke Kopfschmerzen, die hinter Ihren Augen entstehen können
• Ein rauschendes Geräusch in deinem Kopf, das mit deinem Herzschlag pulsiert
• Übelkeit, Erbrechen oder Schwindel
• Sehkraftverlust
• Kurze Blindheitsepisoden, die einige Sekunden andauern und ein oder beide Augen betreffen
• Schwierigkeiten, zur Seite zu sehen
• Doppeltsehen
• Lichtblitze sehen
• Nacken-, Schulter- oder Rückenschmerzen

Sometimes symptoms that have subsided can reappear months or years later.

Causes

The cause of pseudotumor cerebri is unknown. If a cause is identified, the condition is referred to as secondary intracranial hypertension rather than idiopathic.

Your brain and spinal cord are surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid, which protects these vital tissues from injury. This fluid is produced in the brain and eventually absorbed into the bloodstream at a rate that normally allows the pressure in your brain to remain constant.

The increased intracranial pressure of the pseudotumor cerebri could be due to a problem in this absorption process.

Risk factors

The following factors have been associated with pseudotumor cerebri:

obesity

Overweight women of childbearing age are more likely to develop the disorder.

Medication

Substances associated with secondary intracranial hypertension include:

• Wachstumshormon
• Tetracyclin
• Zu viel Vitamin A

Health problems

Conditions and diseases that have been linked to secondary intracranial hypertension include:

• Addison-Krankheit
• Anämie
• Blutgerinnungsstörungen
• Nierenerkrankung
• Lupus
• PCO-Syndrom
• Schlafapnoe
• Unterfunktion der Nebenschilddrüsen

Complications

In some people with pseudotumor cerebri, their vision worsens further, leading to blindness.

Sources:

1. Pseudotumor cerebri Informationsseite. Nationales Institut für neurologische Erkrankungen und Schlaganfälle. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/all-disorders/pseudotumor-cerebri-information-page. Zugriff am 31. Juli 2019.
2. Lee AG, et al. Idiopathische intrakranielle Hypertonie (Pseudotumor cerebri): Klinische Merkmale und Diagnose. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Zugriff am 31. Juli 2019.
3. Fragen Sie MayoExpert. Idiopathische intrakranielle Hypertonie. Mayo-Stiftung für medizinische Ausbildung und Forschung; 2019.
4. Lee AG, et al. Idiopathische intrakranielle Hypertonie (Pseudotumor cerebri): Prognose und Behandlung. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Zugriff am 31. Juli 2019.
5. Idiopathischer intrakranieller Bluthochdruck (Pseudotumor cerebri). American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. https://aapos.org/search?executeSearch=true&SearchTerm=pseudotumor+cerebri&l=1. Zugriff am 31. Juli 2019.
6. Ferri FF. Idiopathische intrakranielle Hypertonie. In: Ferri’s Clinical Advisor 2020. Elsevier, 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. 31. Juli 2019.
7. Eggenberger ER (Gutachten). Mayo-Klinik. 28. August 2019.