Current Overview of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Abstract

Pseudotumor cerebri, also known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), is an increment in the intracranial pressure without identifiable causal factors. The disorder is frequently seen in obese women of childbearing age. Due to both permanent vision loss and higher risk of recurrence than previously thought, patients with IIH should be followed closely using a multidisciplinary approach. IIH treatment should be arranged considering the severity of headache and papilledema, presence of vision loss, response to medical treatment, and comorbid conditions, with individual planning for each patient. In patients where weight loss and acetazolamide are insufficient for symptoms’ resolution, other medical and surgical treatment options should be evaluated rapidly. Because the pathogenesis of IIH is not fully known, treatment options support different theories. With the increase in clinical experience, the aim is to prevent the risk of developing irreversible complications in patients using different treatments, which have recently been developed. This review aimed to evaluate IIH treatment options using current approaches and help physicians in the decision-making process.

Keywords

• pseudotumor cerebri
• idiopathic intracranial hypertension
• medical
• surgical
• treatment