Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome at term pregnancy

Abstract

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a cliniconeuroradiological syndrome associated with various clinical conditions, presenting with headache, encephalopathy, seizures, cortical visual disturbances or blindness. Imaging predominantly shows parieto-occipital white matter changes, with vasogenic oedema being the most accepted pathophysiology. We report a 25-year-old primigravida who presented in term pregnancy with seizures and blindness, scheduled for emergency caesarean section. She was managed peroperatively under general anaesthesia and shifted to intensive care unit. Postoperative computed tomography brain revealed an intra-axial hypodensity involving predominantly white matter regions of bilateral parieto-occipital lobes, right caudate nucleus and right cerebellum, suggestive of PRES. Clinical improvement with complete resolution of visual disturbances was observed with supportive treatment. The importance of prompt suspicion and management in preventing short- and long-term neurological deficits in reversible condition like PRES is highlighted.

Keywords

• Leukoencephalopathy
• posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome
• posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome
• pregnancy
• reversible posterior cerebral oedema syndrome
• reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome