Reversible Posterior Leucoencephalopathy (PLES) Syndrome

Abstract

Scientific background: The posterior leucoencephalopathy (PLES) is a clinico-radiological syndrome characterised by headache, nausea, vomiting, disturbances in cognition, depressed level of consciousness, visual abnormalities and convulsions. It is commonly associated with malignant hypertension, toxemia of pregnancy or use of immunosuppressive agents. O b j e c t i v e: We, here, report a case of reversible posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome in a patient submitted with headache, hypertension, quadranopia and the importance of performing cranial imaging and the benefit of diffusion MRI in the differential diagnosis of P L E S. F i n d i n g s: MRI and diffusion MRI studies have been performed in a 35 year old male patient with hypertension and renal failure, and diffuse posterior system lesions have been found. C o n c l u s i o n: The patient’s clinical and radiologic recovery occurs following control of blood pressure

Keywords

• headache
• stroke
• diffusion MRI
• hypertention
• PLES