Document Detail


Acute cortical blindness due to posterior reversible encephalopathy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18501611     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
An acutely hypertensive 55 year-old male experienced seizures and cortical blindness post-operatively. CT scans demonstrated hypointensities in the occipital lobes bilaterally. MRI revealed symmetrical bilateral hyperintense signals in the same region, involving both grey and white matter. Thromboembolic screening investigations including vertebral artery doppler studies were normal and echocardiography demonstrated borderline left ventricular hypertrophy. A diagnosis of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) was reached and there was complete resolution of blindness with antihypertensive therapy. This case supports the vasogenic theory of PRES which suggests that sustained high grade fluctuations in blood pressure lead to a reduction in cerebral vascular autoregulatory function. The resultant failure of compensatory vasoconstriction to prevent hyperperfusion causes fluid to extravasate into the occipital lobes, which in the present case resulted in cortical blindness.
Authors:
Jenny Nguyen-Lam; Matthew C Kiernan
Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article     Date:  2008-05-22
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia     Volume:  15     ISSN:  0967-5868     ISO Abbreviation:  J Clin Neurosci     Publication Date:  2008 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-09-04     Completed Date:  2008-12-02     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9433352     Medline TA:  J Clin Neurosci     Country:  Scotland    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1182-5     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Prince of Wales Clinical School, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, University of New South Wales; Institute of Neurological Sciences, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Abdomen / surgery
Acute Disease
Blindness, Cortical / etiology*,  pathology
Brain Edema / etiology*,  pathology
Humans
Hypertension / complications*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Occipital Lobe / pathology
Postoperative Complications / etiology*
Seizures / etiology*,  pathology

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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